U.S. President Donald Trump's Christmas Eve on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, was a study in contrasts, blending festive tradition with political combat. The day began with the President and First Lady Melania Trump participating in the annual NORAD Tracks Santa event from their Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where he assured children he was guarding against a "bad Santa" before pivoting hours later to a blistering social media attack.
From Santa Tracker to Political Attack
During the traditional NORAD call, where children from across North America check on Santa Claus's progress, Trump engaged in playful banter. When a child from Oklahoma asked why the military tracks Santa, the President offered a characteristically security-focused reply. "We want to make sure that Santa is being good," Trump said. "We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa."
The calls also touched on Trump's long-standing policy advocacy. Speaking to an eight-year-old girl from Kansas who said she did not want coal for Christmas, Trump immediately reframed the comment. "You mean clean, beautiful coal?" he asked, championing the domestic energy source he has long promoted. The girl, however, held her ground, stating a preference for a Barbie doll, clothes, and candy.
A Swift Shift to Fiery Rhetoric
The President's mood shifted dramatically later in the evening. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump's seasonal greetings came with a heavy dose of vitriol aimed at his political adversaries. "Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly," the post began.
He then listed policy victories, claiming, "We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement." The message concluded with, "We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!!!" This combative holiday messaging is not new for Trump, who has issued similar barbs in Christmas posts during his first term and in the preceding year.
Context and Tradition Meets Politics
The NORAD Santa Tracker is a decades-old tradition where U.S. and Canadian military personnel volunteer to field calls from children on Christmas Eve. Trump's participation, while following presidential precedent, was unmistakably stamped with his unique political brand, intertwining national security imagery with festive cheer and personal policy points.
The day's events underscore the former and potentially future President's approach to public communication, where official duties and political messaging are often seamlessly merged. The rapid transition from assuring children about Santa's goodness to labeling political opponents as "scum" highlights the persistent and unfiltered nature of his public persona, even on a major holiday.
