Melania Trump Joins President Trump for NORAD Santa Tracker Calls on Christmas Eve
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump took part in a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition on Wednesday, speaking with children from across the United States as they tracked Santa Claus’s journey using the NORAD Santa Tracker.
The calls were made from a festively decorated room in Palm Beach, Florida, where the president and first lady spent about 20 minutes answering questions from young callers and following Santa’s progress around the world. During the broadcast, they tracked Santa’s route across parts of Europe, including Denmark and Sweden.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) publicly tracking Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Conversations With Children
During the calls, President Trump asked children what they were hoping Santa would bring them for Christmas. In one exchange with a child in Kansas, the child said they did not want coal as a present. The president responded in a light-hearted manner before continuing the conversation.
In another call with siblings from Oklahoma, President Trump reassured them that Santa would be able to deliver presents safely. He also shared messages of encouragement and holiday goodwill with children from several states.
First Lady Melania Trump remained alongside the president throughout the calls, helping children follow Santa’s location and engaging with families as they shared their excitement about Christmas Eve.
Tracking Santa With NORAD
The NORAD Tracks Santa programme allows children and families worldwide to follow Santa’s journey in real time. According to NORAD, hundreds of thousands of calls are received each year from children eager to know when Santa will arrive.
US Army Captain Alex Werden, the NORAD Tracks Santa programme manager, said nearly 400,000 children were expected to call the Colorado Springs base this year.
“Last year, our busiest period was between 5pm and 7pm Mountain Time, when we received around 60,000 calls per hour,” he said.
To manage demand in 2025, the programme introduced several technological upgrades, including a fully web-based call centre, web calling services and improved systems for handling international calls. Children can also track Santa using the NORAD hotline, 1-877-HI-NORAD, and through online platforms.
Interpreters fluent in around 200 languages are available to assist callers from different countries, ensuring children can receive updates regardless of language.
Around 1,000 volunteers are supporting the operation on Christmas Eve, answering calls, monitoring Santa’s location on NORAD’s tracking map and sharing estimated arrival times with families.
As NORAD marks 70 years of Santa tracking, the tradition continues to bring together volunteers, military personnel and families around the world in a shared celebration of Christmas Eve.
