President Donald Trump counseled one child that a “cherubic” Santa Claus would want cookies, mused to another that “clean beautiful coal” is a gift and assured another that a “bad” Santa will not “infiltrate” the Unites States.
The president spoke to the children by phone during a traditional Christmas Eve event. The president is spending the yearend holidays in Palm Beach, where he took part in two separate Christmas Eve events.
Late in the afternoon on Dec. 24, Trump participated in NORAD Santa Claus calls with children along with first lady Melania Trump. Then he spoke with U.S. military service members.
Trump started the holiday at his Trump International Golf Club near Palm Beach International Airport, where reporters traveling with the president said he arrived just after 9 a.m. He returned to his residence on Palm Beach at about 2:30 p.m.
Not on the schedule were Christmas Eve services. In his first term, the president attended services at Bethesda-by-the-Sea, the church on Palm Beach in which he and the first lady were married. He also attended services at an evangelical church in West Palm Beach.
Trump said ‘cherubic’ Santa would want cookies
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in NORAD Santa tracker phone calls, on Christmas Eve, from the Mar-a-lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 24, 2025.
The first couple spoke to the children as they were seated on either side of a Christmas tree in a Mar-a-Lago hall.
The president took calls from children in four states, including North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington.
He told two of the children that Santa was presently over Sweden and explained why the U.S. air command network tracks him all over the world.
“Santa is a very good person,” Trump said. “We want to make sure that he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. So we found out that Santa is good.”
One of the children said she wanted a dollhouse, and the president offered encouragement.
“I think Santa is going to bring you the most beautiful doll house you’ve ever seen,” he said.
When an 8-year-old in North Carolina asked if Santa would be “mad” if she didn’t leave cookies out for him, the president said St. Nick might be “disappointed.”
“Santa, he tends to be a little bit on the cherubic side. You know what cherubic means? A little on the heavy set,” Trump said. “I think Santa would like some cookies. You’d like to leave some cookies for Santa, right? You’re not going to forget. You’ll leave some. I would leave them. I think Santa has a serious appetite.”
Another young girl said she did not want Santa to gift her coal, leaving Trump to muse about “clean, beautiful” coal.
“Not coal? No? You don’t want coal? You mean clean, beautiful coal? I had to do that. I’m sorry,” Trump said. “Coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember.”
The president then asked what she wanted, and she replied a Barbie and candy.
“Barbie, OK, well, you will get that. I’m sure,” he said. “Candy is good.”
The president also congratulated a child in Tacoma, Washington, who said she had a Kindle electronic reader for Christmas.
“Oh, wow, that’s pretty good. You must be high IQ person,” Trump said. “We need more high IQ people in the country.”
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in calls to US service members, on Christmas Eve, from the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, December 24, 2025.
Trump thanks military personnel, reminds them of $1,776 bonus
After speaking with the children, the president and first lady spoke with U.S. military service members.
Trump lauded the state of affairs in the United States, saying, “We’re doing better than ever.” He then expressed gratitude for their commitment to the nation.
“Let me thank each and every one of you for your extraordinary devotion and service to America,” he said. “I also want to salute your wonderful families, and it’s amazing how much they sacrifice.”
The president noted the absence from their homes “during these beautiful holidays” is especially difficult.
“I know it’s not easy when duty separates you from your loved ones, but you’ve earned the gratitude of all Americans for keeping our country safe, strong and free, and tonight and tomorrow, countless millions of Americans have you in their prayers,” he said. “We are praying for all of you. You have no idea how respected you are, how loved you are.”
The president then touted the “special warrior dividend” he first announced Dec. 17 of $1,776 for military members, noting it will be tax-free.
“You’ve earned it,” he said.
The first lady also thanked the military personnel on the phone.
“Thank you all for your service. Please stay safe, and I wish you and your families a merry Christmas,” she said. “I’m sure they miss you at home, but they’re rooting for you, and they’re very proud of you, so we, the nation, is proud of you, and Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.”
Trump has had active working stay at Mar-a-Lago this Christmas
So far, Trump’s 2025 year-end holiday visit to the Winter White House has been newsworthy.
On Dec. 22, the president held a news conference to announce the U.S. Navy will begin building a series of large warships. Flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of state Marco Rubio, the president said the series of battleships will be named the “Trump class.”
The president also posted a series of threats to media saying that network newscasts and late-night shows that are “100% Negative” in their reporting and jokes, as well as to the MAGA movement, should have their “very valuable” broadcast licenses terminated.
In a different post, he called The New York Times a national security threat.
The president hailed government reports claiming the economy grew at 4.3% in the third quarter as well as a conversation he reported holding with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan aimed at “bringing Peace to ongoing conflicts.”
Trump also renewed and escalated tensions with Denmark by naming Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, an unusual if not provocative move given that the giant island is Danish territory.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How President Trump spent Christmas Eve in Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach
