Not even a government shutdown can stop the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from tracking Santa’s whereabouts. Or stop President Trump from potentially ruining Christmas for children.
Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump, spent some of their Christmas Eve taking calls from children wondering where Santa might be.
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 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) December 25, 2018
When a 7-year-old named Collman Lloyd called in asking about St. Nick’s location, Trump wanted to make sure she was actually a believer.
“Are you still a believer in Santa?” he asked, adding “Because, at 7, it’s marginal, right?”
Yes, this really happened. Listen below:
Donald Trump, answering phone call from 7-year-old on Christmas Eve: "Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven it's marginal, right?" pic.twitter.com/VHexvFSbQ1
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 25, 2018
We didn’t hear Collman’s response, but it did make the president laugh.
https://twitter.com/ScottWamplerBMD/status/1077380478020272133
Some people on Twitter declared that Trump ruined Christmas.
Trump killed Santa
— SCREAMwriter (@marytherese5) December 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/tcanham459/status/1077560050087006209
Wait. Did @realDonaldTrump LEGITIMATELY ruin Christmas and basically tell a kid Santa's not real? That's so surreal. It's like living in an eighties movie for keeps.
— liam (@Liam_J_McIntyre) December 25, 2018
I'm still the only one up and I'm just hoping the kids are up soon so they can open their presents before Trump calls to tell them that there isn't a Santa.
— Art Radley (@g00dneighbour) December 25, 2018
Others are glad the truth is finally out.
https://twitter.com/jpeteryoung/status/1077562487871102976
Melania Trump, meanwhile, can be heard asking callers if they were good this year and telling one kid that Santa was still far away but on his way to their home.
NORAD tweeted that the Santa tracker would still be working despite the government shutdown. The group has tracked the sleigh on Christmas for more than six decades.
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
— U.S. Northern Command (@USNorthernCmd) December 21, 2018
Last year, more than 126,000 children called the NORAD line while the Santa tracker was viewed over 18 million times.
Update 8am CT, Dec. 26: The Post and Courier posted a video of the girl answering Trump, saying that she believes in Santa. This article also corrects the spelling of Collman’s name.