Trump’s “Bad Santa” Comments to Kids Spark Christmas Eve Outrage

President Donald Trump stirred online controversy during NORAD’s annual Santa tracking call on Christmas Eve. Joined by First Lady Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Trump spoke with children across the country about their Christmas wishes—but also warned them about a “bad Santa” infiltrating the nation.

NORAD Call Turns Controversial

During the nearly 21-minute call, the president’s choice of words drew criticism. While children dialed in to track Santa, Trump warned, “We want to make sure that Santa is being good. We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.”

Netizens quickly reacted. Many called his comments “embarrassing” and “demented.” One user wrote, “Whoever thought this was a good idea was wrong. He’s not safe around children, even over the phone.”

Politically Charged Holiday Talk

Trump’s statements went beyond Santa. He referenced elections, coal, and even complimented children as “high-IQ.” Addressing two children from Oklahoma, he added, “Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election.”

Observers noted that using terms like “infiltrate” during a festive conversation felt highly inappropriate. Many interpreted it as a subtle nod to his strict border policies in 2025, including immigration restrictions and mass deportations.

Light-Hearted Moments, But Still Controversial

Despite the criticism, some moments retained a playful tone. When an 8-year-old from Kansas mentioned not wanting coal, Trump replied, “Not coal. No, you don’t want coal. You mean clean, beautiful coal. I had to do that, I’m sorry.” He then asked what the child would like instead, keeping the conversation interactive.

Meanwhile, Melania spoke to children on the phone while Trump took several calls on speakerphone—something viewers found unintentionally amusing.

Misstated Election Facts

In another call, Trump told a 5-year-old from Pennsylvania, “We won Pennsylvania actually, three times, but we won Pennsylvania. We won it in a landslide.” Official records show he won Pennsylvania in 2016 and 2024 but lost in 2020 to Joe Biden.

Later, Trump posted on Truth Social, taking aim at political opponents:

“Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Sc*m that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly. We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports… Weak Law Enforcement… We are respected again, perhaps like never before.”

Historical Context

NORAD’s Santa tracking began in 1955 by accident, when a misprinted Sears phone number sent calls to the Continental Air Defense Command instead of a “Santa hotline.” Volunteers have since made it a massive annual tradition.

Trump and Melania’s participation marked another year in the 70-year history of the event, though this year’s political tone left many questioning the appropriateness of the president’s remarks during a holiday call with children.

What was meant to be a festive, light-hearted conversation about Santa’s journey became a heated moment online. Trump’s use of politically charged language, election references, and warnings about a “bad Santa” sparked outrage while also highlighting the ongoing tension between his public persona and family-friendly events.