President Trump asked a young kid if she still believes in Santa Claus while speaking with children calling into NORAD's Santa tracking hotline on Christmas Eve.

The press caught a glimpse of the president and wife Melania Trump taking calls on separate phones Monday evening in the White House's state dining room, which was decked out in Christmas decorations.

According to a press pool report, Trump, wearing a black suit and red striped tie asked a child named Collman: "Hello, is this Coleman? Merry Christmas. How are you? How old are you? ... Are you doing well in school? Are you still a believer in Santa?"

"Because at 7 it's marginal, right?" he added, followed by a chuckle.



Donald Trump, answering phone call from 7-year-old on Christmas Eve: "Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven it's marginal, right?" pic.twitter.com/VHexvFSbQ1 — The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 25, 2018



The child was later identified by the Post and Courier as Collman Lloyd of Lexington, S.C.

To another child, the president asked, "What's Santa going to get you for Christmas? Who's with you. ... Have a great Christmas, and I'll talk to you again, OK?"

Meanwhile Melania, wearing a high-neck black sheath dress and high reddish or maroon heels, in one conversation told a kid, "Are you tracking Santa? Do you know where he is? ... I hope your dreams come true."

On Christmas Eve every year the North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks location of Santa's sleigh — a tradition that started after a 1955 newspaper ad mistakenly gave the hotline for the Continental Air Defense Command as the number for children trying to reach Santa.

Last week the official Twitter account of NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command announced that the annual tradition will continue Monday, Christmas Eve, with the help of 1,500 volunteers regardless of a partial government shutdown.

NORAD is a joint U.S.-Canadian command that works to defend air sovereignty of North America and protect the continent against aerospace threats.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the identity of the child whom the president asked about believing in Santa.