Trump Injects Politics into NORAD Santa Calls, Revisits 2020 Election
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A holiday tradition took an unexpected turn this year as former President Donald Trump used his participation in the U.S. military’s annual NORAD Tracks Santa event to touch on political topics, including energy policy and the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. The calls, intended to bring cheer to children across the country on Christmas Eve, were punctuated by remarks that veered from the festive spirit.
Coal Industry Advocacy During Holiday Calls
During a call with an 8-year-old girl who stated she didn’t want coal for Christmas, Trump interjected to promote the fossil fuel. “You mean clean, beautiful coal,” he said, adding, “No, coal is clean and beautiful. Please remember that at all costs.” This exchange highlights Trump’s long-standing support for the coal industry, a commitment he demonstrated in April by signing an executive order aimed at bolstering the sector through deregulation of mining, leasing, and exports.
Security Concerns and Political Affiliations with Santa
In a departure from the traditional narrative of Santa Claus as a benevolent gift-giver, Trump told a caller from Oklahoma that the U.S. government monitors Santa’s activities. “We track Santa all over the world. We want to make sure that Santa is being good,” he stated. “We want to make sure he’s not infiltrated, that we’re not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa.” He then connected Santa’s goodwill to his own political standing, saying, “Santa loves Oklahoma like I do… Oklahoma was very good to me in the election. So I love Oklahoma.”
False Claims About the 2020 Election Persist
The former president also revisited unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election during a call with a child from Pennsylvania. “I know Pennsylvania is great. We won Pennsylvania, actually, three times,” Trump asserted, later adding, “I bet your mom voted properly.” These statements contradict certified election results and continue to fuel ongoing disputes about the election’s legitimacy.
A Return to Tradition, with a Twist
While Trump did engage in more conventional holiday conversation with some callers – inquiring about Christmas wishes and offering lighthearted observations about Santa’s physique (“a little on the cherubic side”) – the event was not without echoes of past controversies. The calls recalled a 2018 incident where Trump questioned a 7-year-old girl about her belief in Santa, suggesting it was “marginal” at her age.
Following the calls with service members, Trump continued the political tone in a message posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. He extended “Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly,” before listing accomplishments from his first term, some of which were described as exaggerated. He concluded with a patriotic sentiment: “We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!!!”
The incident underscores the challenges of maintaining a separation between personal politics and public service, even during traditionally apolitical events.
