In a festive tradition with an unmistakably political twist, former President Donald Trump used a Christmas Eve call with children to inject his signature immigration rhetoric into the holiday spirit. The event, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, saw the former commander-in-chief assuring young callers that his administration would keep the United States safe from undesirable festive visitors.
Santa Under Scrutiny: A Joking Reference to Border Security
Speaking to a sibling duo from Oklahoma, Trump seamlessly wove his immigration agenda into the seasonal chat. He promised the children that no 'bad Santas' would be allowed to enter the country, framing border security in whimsical, yet pointed, terms. "We want to make sure that Santa is made good. Santa is a very good person. We want to make sure that he's not infiltrated yet," Trump told the young callers.
He continued this theme, stating, "We're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. So we found out that Santa is good. Santa loves you." The conversation then took a characteristically personal turn as Trump linked his affection for the state to its electoral support. "Santa loves Oklahoma, like I do. You know Oklahoma was very good to me in the election, so I love Oklahoma," he added.
Electoral Boasts and a Defence of 'Clean Coal'
Throughout the series of conversations, the former president repeatedly highlighted his past electoral successes. When speaking to a child from Pennsylvania, Trump claimed he had 'won actually, three times', a reference to his contested narrative about the 2020 election results in the state.
In another notable exchange, a child expressed the common festive wish not to receive any coal in their stocking. Trump's response was to champion one of his administration's key energy policies. He urged the child to 'please remember at all costs' that coal is 'clean and beautiful', directly promoting the concept of 'clean coal' technology which was a cornerstone of his energy and economic agenda.
Politics and Pageantry: Blurring the Lines
This event underscores how Trump frequently merges official political messaging with ceremonial or personal appearances. The Christmas Eve call, typically a light-hearted public relations exercise, was transformed into a platform for reinforcing policy stances on immigration and energy. By using the accessible metaphor of Santa Claus, the former president made complex and often contentious political issues part of a holiday dialogue, demonstrating his distinctive approach to communication that blends populist rhetoric with official government business.
