Trump takes NORAD Santa calls with children, praises 'clean, beautiful coal' and 'high IQ' person

Trump speaks with kids for Christmas Eve: 'You must be a high IQ person'

Trump takes phone calls with kids on Christmas Eve: 'You must be a high IQ person.' (Credit: Rapid Response 47 via X)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump spoke with several children on Christmas Eve, as Santa Claus makes the rounds across the globe, where he praised "clean, beautiful coal" and told one child they must be a "high IQ person."

The pair joined the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Santa Tracker hotline from Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., where they fielded calls from kids about what they hoped St. Nick would bring them for Christmas. 

One child told Trump they wanted a Kindle, the e-reader designed and marketed by Amazon. 

INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS CARD TRADITION – FROM COOLIDGE TO TRUMP

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump field phone calls from children on Christmas Eve.  (White House)

"That's pretty good. You must be a high IQ person. We need more high IQ people in the country," he replied. 

One 8-year-old North Carolina girl asked if Santa would be upset if she didn't leave him cookies. 

"I think he won't get mad, but I think he'll be very disappointed," said Trump. "Santa tends to be a little on the cherubic side."

Trump asked one child in Kansas what they would like Santa to bring.

"Um, not coal," the child replied.

MELANIA TRUMP GIVES UPLIFTING MESSAGE ABOUT SANTA TO YOUNG KIDS AT HOSPITAL

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are pictured in their official Christmas portrait. (The White House)

"Not coal, no you don’t want coal. You mean clean, beautiful coal. I had to do that, I’m sorry," Trump said. 

"No, coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that at all costs," he added. "But you don’t want clean, beautiful coal, right? What would you like?"

Trump has frequently referred to coal and "clean" and "beautiful" amid an effort to boost its use. 

During a call with a child in Oklahoma, he said he was fond of the state, which he won in the 2024 presidential election. 

"Santa loves you. Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election. So I love Oklahoma. Don’t ever leave Oklahoma, OK?" he said.

During the same call, Trump talked about tracking Santa.

White House staff and volunteers decorate for Christmas, Sunday, November 30, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks) (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"We track Santa all over the world... We want to make sure that he's not infiltrated — that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa," he said. "We found that Santa is GOOD!"

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].