President Donald Trump says coal is ‘beautiful’ during call with NORAD Santa and children

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump sat in gold-trimmed armchairs near a Christmas tree and took part in a long-standing holiday tradition for more than 20 minutes. The president spoke to his family on speakerphone, and the first lady spoke to children on the receiver.

Trump asked children what they wanted from Santa Claus, praised the states he won in the 2024 election and touted the latest GDP report while joking with reporters in the audience. “Great numbers, great finances. I don’t think kids are really interested in that,” Trump said.

Some of President Trump’s comments to children include:

• When asked by a child in Oklahoma why Santa Claus is being tracked, he replied: “I want to make sure that Santa Claus is not invading, that there is no bad Santa invading our country.” He also told the child, “Never leave Oklahoma.”
• When the child told him he didn’t want coal as a gift, he replied, “I mean clean, beautiful coal. I had to do that, I’m sorry.” “Please remember” that coal is “clean and beautiful,” he added.
• While answering a child’s phone call in Pennsylvania, Trump claimed he had won the state “actually three times.” Trump lost the state in the 2020 election.