In a Christmas Eve marked by both tradition and political vitriol, U.S. President Donald Trump blended seasonal greetings with a sharp attack on his political opponents, branding them "radical left scum." The president delivered the mixed message from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 24, 2025.
A Dual-Toned Holiday Message
The Republican leader participated in the long-standing tradition of taking calls for the NORAD Santa tracker, a program that follows Father Christmas's journey for children worldwide. He also sent Christmas greetings to American military personnel stationed across the globe, including those involved in a significant U.S. naval deployment in Caribbean waters aimed at pressuring Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
However, the spirit of bipartisan bonhomie was absent for political rivals. On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted: "Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly."
Economic Boasts Amid Political Barbs
In the same social media post, the president touted his administration's perceived achievements, contrasting them with policies he attributes to the left. "We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement," he stated.
He pointed to economic data released just a day earlier, on December 23, which showed the U.S. economy grew by 4.3 percent in the third quarter—the highest GDP growth in two years and two points better than analysts had expected. Trump cited this alongside a "Record Stock Market," strong 401K performance, low crime numbers, and claimed there was "No Inflation."
Context and Criticism
The president's outburst came amid sustained criticism from Democratic opponents focusing on cost-of-living issues. The same Commerce Department report that highlighted strong GDP growth also contained a less favorable metric: the price index for domestic purchases rose by 3.4 percent in the quarter, a significant jump from the 2.0 percent reading in the previous quarter, indicating persistent inflationary pressures.
Furthermore, in the week leading up to Christmas, Democrats had intensified their criticism of the Justice Department over its handling of records from the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a former associate of Trump. The slow release and heavy redaction of thousands of documents had become a point of contention.
Trump's Christmas Eve actions thus encapsulated his presidency's style: a blend of ceremonial duty, direct communication with his base via social media, and combative political rhetoric, ensuring the holiday pause was anything but a political ceasefire.
