--- title: President Trump Celebrates Christmas With Attack on Democrats description: President Donald Trump appears to be having a sour holiday that includes angry tweets, rants about Democrats while the country endures a partial government shutdown... canonical: https://time.com/5488211/donald-trump-disgrace-merry-christmas/ author: Mahita Gajanan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-12-25T19:26:19.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:53:01.762Z article:section: Politics og:title: President Trump Is Having a Sour Christmas og:description: 'It's a disgrace what's happening in this country, but other than that, I wish everybody a Merry Christmas.' og:url: https://time.com/5488211/donald-trump-disgrace-merry-christmas/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0bd7860d4605dce4/6989424186f68eeec86eb0cb/trump-christmas-message.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5276 og:image:height: 2968 og:image:alt: Trump Delivers Christmas Day Message To Troops From Oval Office og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: President Trump Is Having a Sour Christmas twitter:description: 'It's a disgrace what's happening in this country, but other than that, I wish everybody a Merry Christmas.' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0bd7860d4605dce4/6989424186f68eeec86eb0cb/trump-christmas-message.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'It's a Disgrace... but Other Than That, I Wish Everybody a Merry Christmas.' 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=71aa19d5-01b0-4a73-afbd-17fffb81fb87&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Believing in Santa at Seven Is 'Marginal, Right?' The Trumps Take Calls From Kids on Christmas Eve [Watch (HLS stream): Believing in Santa at Seven Is 'Marginal, Right?' The Trumps Take Calls From Kids on Christmas Eve](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/n12GYA3b.m3u8) (1:06)  _Published 2018-12-25. Before attending Christmas Eve services at Washington National Cathedral, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took calls from children anxious to find out where Santa is on his gift-giving journey._ by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Dec 25, 2018 7:26 PM UTC  U.S. President Donald Trump makes a video call to service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard stationed worldwide in the Oval Office at the White House December 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Donald Trump makes a video call to service members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard stationed worldwide in the Oval Office at the White House December 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. Pool—Getty Images by [Mahita Gajanan](https://time.com/author/mahita-gajanan/) ## Mahita Gajanan Gajanan is an editor at TIME. Dec 25, 2018 7:26 PM UTC President Donald Trump appears to be having a sour holiday that includes angry tweets, rants about Democrats while the country [endures a partial government shutdown](http://time.com/5488195/donald-trump-christmas-shutdown/) and a phone call with a 7-year-old in which he [questioned the existence of Santa Claus](http://time.com/5488067/donald-trump-christmas-santa-tracker-norad/). The President’s troubles came to a head Tuesday when he attacked Democrats over the [government shutdown](http://time.com/5488084/donald-trump-shutdown-holidays/), despite his claims that he wouldn’t blame them for it. He also took shots at former FBI Director James Comey and criticized the [Federal Reserve’s decision](http://time.com/5488176/donald-trump-christmas-federal-reserve/) to raise interest rates. Prior to Christmas Day, Trump complained about spending Christmas Eve “all alone” in the White House, following up a tweet with “poor me.” While his family went to Mar-a-Lago to celebrate the holiday, Trump stayed behind to deal with the shutdown. > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1077255770725601280) First Lady Melania Trump returned to Washington, D.C. from Florida on Monday and attended a Christmas Eve service with the President. The couple also answered Christmas Eve calls from children trying to track Santa Claus. In one call, Trump questioned a 7-year-old boy named Coleman’s belief in Santa Claus. “Because at 7, it’s marginal, right?” Trump asked. Trump’s holiday ire extended through Christmas Day. During holiday calls with U.S. troops serving overseas, Trump told reporters that Democrats were being hypocrites for refusing to vote for the $5 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The House and Senate had agreed on a deal last week to fund the government through Feb. 8, when Trump reversed course and said he would veto any funding bill that didn’t include wall funding. The President also previously said he’d take responsibility if the government shut down over the border wall issue. He ended his rant Tuesday with: “It’s a disgrace what’s happening in this country, but other than that, I wish everybody a Merry Christmas.” Trump’s Christmas wish at the end of his comments spawned a litany of reaction online. > [](https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1077585082171314176) As one Twitter user noted, anyone who overspent on Christmas gifts can apply the same sentiment to their finances. > [](https://twitter.com/brandyareeves/status/1077613368272273408) People can also apply Trump’s catchphrase to Twitter itself. > [](https://twitter.com/cullenroche/status/1077623778010640385) Others agreed that Trump’s Christmas wish was not the worst way to greet people for the holidays. > [](https://twitter.com/NumbersMuncher/status/1077600270861901824) Elsewhere, people criticized Trump for his comments. > [](https://twitter.com/EINS%5FInstitute/status/1077623540885712896) > [](https://twitter.com/kathy%5Flevy/status/1077623798310957057) ## Transcript Hello, is this Coleman? Well, Merry Christmas, how are you? How are you doing? How old are you, Coleman? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Seven, wow, that's pretty good, right? Is everything good? Are you doing well in school? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] That's great. What are you gonna do for Christmas? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Hello, good evening. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Well, that's very good. Well, you just have a good time. Are you still a believer in Santa? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Cuz at seven it's marginal, right? [ LAUGH ] Well, you just enjoy yourself. Where are you from Coleman? [ BLANK_AUDIO ] [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Well, honey, Happy Christmas, and you just take care of yourself and say hello to your family, okay? 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