Trump, in Christmas Eve phone call, asks child if they still believe in Santa Claus

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made a progression of Christmas Eve telephone approaches Monday, punctuated by a trade in which the president evidently scrutinized a tyke's confidence in Santa Claus.

"Are you still a devotee to Santa?" the president could be heard asking the youngster via telephone. "Since at 7, it's peripheral, right?" Trump at that point laughed before finishing up the call with the youngster. "You simply go have a good time," he said into the beneficiary.

The calls were made related to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the association's "Santa Clause tracker."

"Helping kids the nation over track #Santa is getting to be one of my most loved customs! @Potus and I delighted in working with @NORADSanta," the principal woman tweeted following the calls.Both the president and first woman are observing Christmas in the White House after Trump said he would remain in D.C. following the fractional government shutdown that became effective Saturday morning.

"I won't go Florida as a result of the Shutdown - Staying in the White House," the president tweeted close by a MAGA hashtag.