Trump boasts about ‘winning Pennsylvania three times’ during Christmas Eve calls with children
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump mixed holiday cheer with political reflection while speaking with children across the country on Christmas Eve.
During calls from Mar-a-Lago on December 24, Trump repeatedly referenced his past election victories, including claims about Pennsylvania.
🚨 HILARIOUS MOMENT during Trump's NORAD Santa Tracker calls tonight! pic.twitter.com/L07vU9wivX
— JJ🕊️ (@jesseyjay94) December 24, 2025
Kid on the phone: "I'm from Pennsylvania!"
President Trump: "We actually won Pennsylvania THREE TIMES — and the last one was a total LANDSLIDE! That's why I love Pennsylvania so much!"…
Trump and Melania Trump take part in NORAD Santa calls from Mar-a-Lago
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump marked Christmas Eve this year by participating in the traditional NORAD Santa Claus calls, a long-standing holiday event that allows the president and first lady to speak with children from across the United States.
The calls took place on Wednesday, December 24, at the Trumps’ Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, where the first couple is spending the holiday season. While many of the conversations centered on Christmas excitement and well-wishes, Trump injected familiar political commentary into several exchanges.
During one call with a child from Pennsylvania, the 79-year-old president praised the state before pivoting to his electoral history there.
“We won Pennsylvania — actually, three times,” Trump said. “We won it in a landslide. So I love Pennsylvania.”
Trump’s Pennsylvania claim contrasts with official election results
While Trump did win Pennsylvania in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, he did not carry the state in 2020.
In 2016, Trump narrowly defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, earning 48.2% of the vote compared to Clinton’s 47.5%, according to The New York Times. Four years later, former President Joe Biden flipped the state, winning Pennsylvania by a 1.17% margin, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported.
Trump reclaimed Pennsylvania in the 2024 election, defeating former Vice President Kamala Harris. Official results cited by The New York Times showed Trump received 3,543,308 votes, while Harris earned 3,423,042.
Despite the discrepancy, Trump’s claim drew attention online, echoing a long pattern of the president framing electoral outcomes in expansive terms.
Oklahoma and Trump’s continued emphasis on loyalty states
Trump made similar remarks during another Christmas Eve call, this time with a child from Oklahoma. The president praised the state’s electoral support and encouraged the child to remain there.
“Oklahoma was very good to me in the election,” Trump said, adding that they should 'never leave Oklahoma.'
Trump: We track Santa. We want to make sure that Santa is being good. We want to make sure that he's not infiltrated, that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election pic.twitter.com/9ZrhYBqYa8
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 24, 2025
The comments align with Oklahoma’s consistent voting record. Trump won the state in three consecutive presidential elections, and Oklahoma has not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964.
Trump has frequently emphasized loyalty from reliably red states, often highlighting them during public remarks, rallies, and informal conversations.
Christmas calls echo past controversial holiday moments
The president’s remarks this Christmas season recalled a previous holiday exchange during his first term that also attracted widespread attention.
In 2018, Trump spoke with a 7-year-old girl named Collman Lloyd from South Carolina during a Christmas Eve call. While discussing Santa Claus, Trump asked her, “Are you still a believer in Santa?”
When she said yes, Trump responded, “Because at 7, it’s marginal, right?” The exchange sparked criticism at the time for its unexpected tone during a holiday tradition involving children.
Trump’s willingness to deviate from scripted holiday pleasantries has remained consistent across both terms.
Trump’s state-by-state remarks extend beyond holiday settings
Trump’s habit of referencing electoral victories during unrelated moments surfaced again in November following the deaths of US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who were shot and killed near the White House on November 26.
When asked whether he would attend Beckstrom’s funeral, Trump first commented on her home state.
Q: Do you plan to attend Sarah's funeral?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 28, 2025
TRUMP: I haven't thought about it yet, but it's certainly something I can conceive of. I love West Virginia. You know, I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere. pic.twitter.com/AtHAzjIQQB
“I love West Virginia. You know I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere,” Trump said. “These are great people. I love the people of West Virginia. I love the people of our country.”
Trump added that he had not yet decided whether to attend the service, saying it was 'something I could conceive of.'
White House outreach followed despite funeral absence
Although Trump did not attend Beckstrom’s funeral on December 9, he did extend invitations to both soldiers’ families to visit the White House.
According to NBC News, Wolfe’s family accepted the invitation and met with Trump on December 4, posing for photographs with the president in the Oval Office.
