The 7-year-old who spoke with President Donald Trump over the phone on Christmas Eve said that she was surprised to talk to the nation’s leader.
Collman Lloyd of Lexington, South Carolina called the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which tracks the location of Santa Claus, to ask where Santa was located.
The scientist who answered the phone asked the girl if she'd like to speak with President Trump. Six minutes later, Trump came on the line.
Trump asked her what her plans were for the evening, and she told him the family planned to make cookies and hang out with friends.
“Well that’s very good, you just have a good time,” Trump said.
“Are you still a believer in Santa?” he added.
“Yes, sir,” she said.
Trump replied, “Because at 7, that’s marginal, right?”
“Yes, sir,” she said again.
Trump bid her farewell and to enjoy herself on Christmas.
“I was like, ‘wow.’ I was shocked,” she said. “It wasn’t really (nerve-wracking), I just had to think of what the truth was.”
After the call, she sat in the kitchen with her two siblings, a friend, and her parents, musing about Trump’s family and his plans for the holiday. She said she wished she had asked him about his family.
“Most people know this question. I would like to ask if he has any kids,” she said. “I’ve honestly never heard of them or seen any of them so I was wondering.”
She said she found gifts under the tree on Christmas from Santa, including a brand new American girl doll.
Trump Stays at White House
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump later on Christmas Eve attended a service at the National Cathedral.Trump told reporters on Christmas that he stayed behind at the White House due to the government shutdown.
“I love the White House but I wasn’t able to be with my family,” he said. “I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family. My family’s in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didn’t want to go down there and be there when other people are hurting. But it’s going to all work out.”
The House passed a budget and the Senate passed a separate budget but lawmakers couldn’t reach an agreement with Trump, who wanted the House budget to pass the Senate. That budget included $5 billion for the border wall.
He said that many workers have told him that they want the government shutdown to continue until Trump receives funding for the wall.
“These federal workers want the wall,” Trump said. “The only one that doesn’t want the wall are the Democrats because they don’t mind open borders.”
Trump later spoke to members of the U.S. military, thanking them for their service.
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