President Donald Trump asked a 7-year-old girl who called the NORAD Santa tracking hotline if she still believed in the mythical figure, during an annual Christmas Eve presidential tradition Monday night.
“Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven it’s marginal, right?”
– Donald Trump@BarstoolNewsN pic.twitter.com/avm3JHmjsD
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 25, 2018
“Hello, is this Collman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you … Are you doing well in school? Are you still a believer in Santa? ‘Cause at 7, it’s marginal right,” Trump said during the full course of the phone call.
The president took other phone calls from children who were randomly selected to speak with him and the first lady during the event.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and first lady Melania Trump take phone calls from children as they participates in tracking Santa Claus’ movements with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve in the East Room of the White House December 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is the 63rd straight year that NORAD has publicly tracked Santa’s sleigh on its global rounds. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump’s participation marks the 63rd year that NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) has participated in the Santa tracking event, which provides updates to children of Santa’s movements from the North Pole.
In the event of a government shutdown, NORAD will continue with its 63-year tradition of NORAD Tracks Santa on Dec. 24. Military personnel who conduct NORAD Tracks Santa are supported by approximately 1,500 volunteers who make the program possible each and every year. pic.twitter.com/fY0oyjrdDc
— NORAD & USNORTHCOM (@Norad_Northcom) December 21, 2018
First lady Melania Trump tweeted after the event that answering the NORAD hotline is becoming one of her favorite traditions within the White House. (RELATED: Celebrate Melania’s Birthday With Her Greatest Looks As First Lady [SLIDESHOW])
Helping children across the country track #Santa is becoming one of my favorite traditions! @Potus and I enjoyed working with @NORADSanta – #ChristmasEve pic.twitter.com/CYNkARbFaI
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 25, 2018
Editor’s note: The article at first incorrectly referred to Collman as a boy when she is, in fact, a girl. The wording has been changed to reflect this.