US President Donald Trump found himself in an unexpectedly awkward moment during the 70th annual NORAD Santa Tracker event on Christmas Eve, as First Lady Melania Trump cut him off mid-praise. The incident, which took place live from their Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, quickly went viral on social media.
Trump’s On-Air Praise for Melania Turns Awkward
During the annual Christmas Eve tradition, where the president and first lady answer calls from children asking about Santa Claus’ journey, Trump attempted to lavish praise on Melania.
“How are you doing, First Lady? Oh look at you! Isn’t this the greatest First Lady? People love our First Lady, right honey?” he said.
TRUMP: “What would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?”
KID: “Not coal.”
TRUMP: “You mean CLEAN BEAUTIFUL COAL. Sorry, I had to do that.” 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Qf9N2uyTfR
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) December 24, 2025
He continued, “Look at her, how elegant is the First Lady. Look at you. I’m not supposed to be doing this,” before Melania abruptly interrupted. Glancing toward an aide, she asked, “Anybody else? Are they calling?” This brief, blunt interruption instantly became the highlight of the broadcast, sparking a flurry of memes and reactions online.
Social Media Reacts to Melania’s Blunt Moment
Viewers quickly noticed Melania’s body language, with one user commenting, “Her knees are faced as far away from him as possible.” The candid moment was described as an unusually unscripted glimpse into the couple’s public dynamic, standing out amidst what is typically a carefully choreographed holiday event.
Other Memorable Moments From the NORAD Calls
The Christmas Eve calls also had other viral highlights. When one child asked Santa for a Kindle, Trump responded: “Oh wow that is pretty good. You must be a high-IQ person. We need more high-IQ people in the country.” He also joked about Santa’s cookie habits, telling children, “I don’t think he’d be mad, but I think he’ll be very disappointed,” if no cookies were left out.
Trump even managed to sneak in political humour when a child hoped Santa wouldn’t bring coal, joking, “You mean clean, beautiful coal? I had to do that, I’m sorry.”
Melania’s Composed Response Wins Praise
Despite the awkward moment, Melania maintained her composure throughout the event. Later in the broadcast, she smiled as Trump jokingly remarked she could “focus totally, without listening” while on a separate call. Her calm and practical interruption “Anybody else? Are they calling?”has been widely praised as a witty and poised move in the face of her husband’s on-air flattery.
Christmas Eve Event Goes Viral
The NORAD Santa Tracker tradition has always been a fan favorite, but this year’s event went viral not only for the presidential interaction with children but also for the unexpected off-script moment with the First Lady.
Social media continues to buzz with reactions, memes, and discussions about the candid interaction between Donald and Melania Trump.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
