Donald Trump expressed disbelief that a 7-year old girl from South Carolina, named Collman Lloyd, still thought Santa Claus is real, as the president conversed with her on the phone on Christmas Eve.
The conversation took place when Trump and his wife, Melania, were taking calls from American children who were trying to reach NORAD, which, as per tradition, officially tracks Santa’s movements around the world on Christmas.
"Cause at seven, it's marginal, right?" Trump inquired, and when the girl replied to him "Yes, sir", he told her to "just enjoy" herself.
As the exchange went viral, a number of Twitter users were quick to criticise Trump for his conduct during this conversation.
Collman’s parents, however, said they have no issue with the way the US president talked to their daughter, with her father, Donald J. Lloyd, claiming that he would’ve used similar language in such a conversation.
"I think it’s crazy it became a big deal. It’s Christmastime. I’d love to keep politics out of Christmas. It didn’t bother me — I like to talk to my kids like adults," he told BuzzFeed.