Trump Declares Coal “Beautiful” in NORAD Santa Calls, Jokes with Kids

UPDATE: President Donald Trump has taken the Christmas spirit to new heights during a live call with children at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) on Christmas Eve, jokingly declaring coal “beautiful” while promoting his political wins. The calls, broadcast on C-SPAN, are part of a cherished tradition dating back to 1955, allowing children to track Santa Claus.

During the call, Trump asked young Amelia from Kansas what she wanted Santa to bring. When she replied, “Not coal,” Trump responded, “Not coal? No, you don’t want coal … You mean, clean beautiful coal.” His comment sparked laughter, as he insisted, “Coal is clean and beautiful, please remember that—at all cost.”

This light-hearted moment comes as Trump aims to highlight his administration’s push for increased energy production by promoting fossil fuels. However, his jokes often circled back to his political victories, including claiming, “Pennsylvania is great, we won Pennsylvania, actually three times,” during a call with a 5-year-old from the state. Trump won Pennsylvania in the November 2024 election by a narrow margin, securing 312 votes and 49.8 percent of the popular vote against then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes and 48.3 percent.

The president also addressed a child from North Carolina who asked if Santa would be upset if there were no cookies left for him. Trump reassured her, saying, “I think he won’t get mad, but he’ll be very disappointed.” He humorously described Santa as “a little on the cherubic side,” encouraging the child to leave cookies, claiming, “I think Santa has a serious appetite.”

These calls have captured widespread attention on social media, especially after Trump complimented an eight-year-old girl, saying she sounded “so beautiful and cute” and “so smart.” He explained the purpose of NORAD tracking Santa, saying, “We want to make sure that Santa is being good—that Santa is a very good person.”

The festive calls come amid serious discussions about Trump’s immigration policies, with reports indicating that more than 605,000 people have been deported from the U.S. since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. Another 1.9 million undocumented immigrants are reported to have self-deported.

As the holiday season unfolds, Trump’s playful banter with children serves as a reminder of the lighter moments in politics, even as significant issues loom in the background.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as reactions continue to pour in from across the nation.