It was supposed to be a lighthearted Christmas Eve tradition — but it turned into one of the most painfully awkward holiday moments yet from the White House.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump joined NORAD’s annual Santa-tracking phone bank on December 24, taking calls from kids eager to find out when Santa would reach their homes. But the festive spirit didn’t last long.
As Trump began praising his wife live on camera, calling her a “great First Lady” and “so elegant,” Melania cut him off mid-sentence, glancing at the camera before asking, “Anybody else? Are they calling?” The exchange was brief but icy — and social media lit up immediately.
“It’s giving hostage energy,” one X user wrote. “She’s so done.” Another joked, “Not even Santa could save that marriage.”
The event, meant to celebrate holiday joy, quickly veered into political territory. Between comments about reindeer and toy deliveries, Trump slipped in familiar talking points — boasting about winning Pennsylvania “three times” and reminding one caller that “Oklahoma was very good to me in the election.”
He even quipped, “We want to make sure Santa’s not infiltrated — we don’t want a bad Santa coming into the country,” sparking disbelief from parents listening in.
“Who talks about ‘infiltration’ to kids on Christmas Eve?” another X user posted. “Just say Merry Christmas and hang up, dude.”
For Melania, the moment revived memories of past awkward holiday appearances. In 2018, she went viral for her deadpan response when Trump asked a 7-year-old if she still believed in Santa — “At seven, it’s marginal, right?”
Former White House staffers have described Melania as “dutiful but disengaged” during public events, and the exchange seemed to confirm that perception once again.
“She knows how to stay composed,” said former communications aide Stephanie Grisham. “But she also knows how to send a message without saying much.”
The NORAD Santa Tracker event, run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command since 1955, has long been a bipartisan family favorite — an annual reminder that Christmas belongs to everyone, regardless of politics.
This year, however, Trump’s participation felt more like a campaign stop than a holiday outreach. Between the self-congratulation and the awkward marital tension, what should have been a sweet tradition became an uncomfortable viral clip.
Still, as one user summed up on social media: “Santa’s tracking the sleigh — and the rest of us are tracking Melania’s patience.”
(Source: NORAD, X/Twitter, Irish Star)
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Really facts matter so tell the truth on this little story you told. We can all see what really happened. Don’t be like cnn and leave things out. Not good reporting.