Donald Trump has appeared to suggest Father Christmas is fake news as he questioned his existence during a phone call with a seven-year-old girl.

The US president was putting in calls alongside his wife Melania on Christmas Eve from the White House when he made the faux pas.

Speaking to a girl called Collman as the cameras rolled, Mr Trump could be heard saying "well that's very good, and you just have a good time".

But then he added: "Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven it's marginal, right?"

Collman's reaction was not captured by the cameras. The comment was widely picked up on Christmas Day by numerous newspapers.