On Christmas Eve, President Donald Trump engaged in a unique tradition of taking calls from excited children tracking Santa’s journey with the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). However, instead of focusing on the festive spirit, Trump revisited the contentious 2020 election, a topic that still divides his supporters.
The aftermath of the election saw a group of Trump supporters storming the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. Despite being re-elected, Trump seems fixated on the past election results, as evident in his conversations with children during the NORAD Santa tracker event.
During one conversation with a child at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump unsubstantially claimed victory in Pennsylvania three times, emphasizing his attachment to states that supported him. These interactions drew criticism from viewers, who found Trump’s remarks inappropriate and self-centered, even during discussions about Santa Claus.
This is not the first time Trump has sparked controversy during Christmas interactions. In a previous incident in 2018, he questioned a seven-year-old’s belief in Santa, suggesting skepticism at such a young age. On Christmas Day, Trump’s message took a negative turn as he criticized the “Radical Left Scum,” showcasing his ongoing confrontational rhetoric.
Overall, Trump’s Christmas messages, both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, failed to resonate positively with many, with social media users expressing disappointment in his behavior towards children and his political adversaries.