**Excerpt:** President Trump interacted with children during NORAD’s Santa tracking calls, emphasizing the importance of Santa’s good behavior and promoting “clean coal.”
Key Points:
– President Trump participated in NORAD’s Santa tracking calls on Christmas Eve.
– He expressed concern about ensuring Santa remains “good” and not a “bad Santa.”
– Trump promoted “clean, beautiful coal” during conversations with children.
– The tradition of tracking Santa has been ongoing since 1955.
– Trump also took time to speak with U.S. military service members during the holiday.
Full Article
Trump’s Christmas Eve Engagement
On Christmas Eve, President Donald Trump took part in a holiday tradition by answering calls from children through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The annual event, which includes tracking Santa Claus, received nearly 400,000 calls last year.
Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the president engaged in lighthearted banter with kids as they shared their Christmas lists. He assured one 10-year-old from Oklahoma about Santa’s whereabouts, stating, “We track Santa all over the world.”
Addressing Concerns About Santa
One child asked how NORAD monitors Santa. Trump responded, emphasizing the importance of ensuring Santa is “good” and not a “bad Santa,” saying, “We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.”
Later, responding to an 8-year-old from Kansas who expressed concern about receiving coal, Trump humorously replied with his familiar phrase, “You mean clean, beautiful coal?”
Children’s Christmas Wishes
During the calls, children expressed their wishes for Christmas gifts, including a dollhouse and a Kindle reader. Trump encouraged them, predicting they would receive their desired gifts. He referenced cultural icons, noting, “You know Elton John? He did ‘Pinball Wizard,'” when discussing a child’s request for a pinball machine.
Advice for Leaving Treats for Santa
When an 8-year-old from North Carolina worried about not leaving out cookies and milk, Trump advised her to do so, stating, “I think Santa has a serious appetite.” He elaborated that Santa would be “very disappointed” if treats were not left for him.
Conclusion of the Calls
The president spent approximately 20 minutes on the calls, concluding with conversations with U.S. military members. Later, he shared a message on social media that criticized political opponents while mentioning an encouraging GDP report, albeit acknowledging that such topics might not interest the children he had just spoken with.
The tradition of tracking Santa, which began in 1955, continues to be a festive highlight for many families across the nation.
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