7-year-old who spoke with Trump still believes in Santa
/ CBS/AP
A 7-year-old girl who spoke with President Trump on Christmas Eve still left out milk and cookies for Santa despite the president telling her it was "marginal" for a child of her age to still believe in St. Nick. However, Collman Lloyd of Lexington, South Carolina, said she had never heard the word "marginal" before.
Collman called the NORAD Tracks Santa program Monday to check on Santa's journey delivering toys. In an interview with the Post and Courier, she said the scientist who answered the NORAD phone asked her if she would like to speak to the president.
Six minutes later, Mr. Trump was on the line. "Are you still a believer in Santa?" Mr. Trump asked. When she responded, "Yes, sir," the president added, "Because at 7, that's marginal, right?"
Collman didn't know what "marginal" meant and simply answered, "Yes, sir." Mr. Trump closed by saying, "Well, you just enjoy yourself."
Mr. Trump's chat with Collman was initially reported as being with a boy named Coleman. Only Mr. Trump's end of the conversation could be heard by reporters, but Collman's family later posted video of the call on YouTube.
Collman told the Post and Courier that she and her 10-year-old sister and 5-year-old brother left iced sugar cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. She reported that Christmas morning, the food was gone and presents were under the tree.
In addition to the NORAD Tracks Santa program and church services Christmas Eve, Mr. Trump participated in another holiday tradition, wishing U.S. troops stationed around the country and the globe a merry Christmas. He spoke Tuesday by video conference to members of all five branches of the U.S. military.
"I know it's a great sacrifice for you to be away from your families, but I want you to know that every American family is eternally grateful to you, and we're holding you close in our hearts, thoughts and prayers," Mr. Trump said. "We love what you do and love your work. Amazing people."
The president spent a rare Christmas in Washington because of a stalemate with Congress over government funding that left several departments and agencies shuttered since the weekend, affecting the livelihoods of some 800,000 federal employees.
Mr. Trump usually celebrates Christmas at his Florida estate. He scrapped plans to travel to Palm Beach because of the shutdown.
"I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family," he told reporters in the Oval Office after the give and take with members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard from their stations in Guam, Bahrain, Qatar and Alaska.
"My family is in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didn't want to go down and be there when other people are hurting," Mr. Trump said. He didn't mention which family members were at the Mar-a-Lago estate.
First published on December 25, 2018
© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
7-year-old who spoke with Trump still believes in Santa
The president told the young girl it was "marginal" for a child of her age to believe in St. Nick
updated 0M ago 
Indonesia asks residents to avoid coast near erupting volcano
Official says continuing eruptions could cause landslides and could trigger a second tsunami
updated 40M ago 
Jordan Peele debuts first trailer for new horror film "Us"
The film follows a family of four who are haunted by the demonic version of themselves
1H ago 
Federal workers struggle as shutdown continues through Christmas
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will work without pay or be furloughed until the government reopens
2H ago 
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody; second in a month
Customs and Border Protection said the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas morning
3H ago 
The lawsuits that could bankrupt the opioid industry
The attorney behind a multibillion-dollar tobacco settlement in 1998 has turned his attention to the opioid epidemic. And he wants drug companies to pay
Dec 17 
Cleaning up the plastic in the ocean
Discarded plastic is piling up around the world and pooling in the ocean. Sharyn Alfonsi reports on the problem's deadly consequences for wildlife and what can be done to stop it
Dec 16 
Tesla CEO Elon Musk: The "60 Minutes" interview
Musk opens up to Lesley Stahl about Twitter, pot, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Model 3 and Tesla
Dec 9 
Study examines effects of screen time on kids
"60 Minutes" goes inside a landmark government study of young minds to see if phones, tablets and other screens are impacting adolescent brain development
Dec 10 
Ryan Speedo Green: From juvenile delinquency to opera stardom
After a childhood of anger and violence, the 32-year-old now commands the stage around the world
Dec 9 
Remembering President George H.W. Bush
Former presidents and others look back on the life of President George H.W. Bush, who passed away Friday
Dec 2 
Paradise Lost: Inside California's Camp Fire
"60 Minutes" reveals what firefighters saw as the deadliest wildfire in California history destroyed the town of Paradise
Dec 2 
The chaos behind family separation at the border
A "60 Minutes" investigation has found the separations that dominated headlines this summer began earlier and were greater in number than the Trump administration admits
Nov 26 
Right Rail – Video Promo – Listing
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody
For the second time in several weeks, a young immigrant child has died while in Border Patrol custody, raising new questions about the treatment of those seeking asylum in the U.S. Anna Werner reports.
2H ago 02:27 
Finishing the work of a murdered journalist
Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in Malta last year. Now major news organizations are continuing her reporting
Dec 23 04:45 
Government shutdown enters 4th day
President Trump said parts of the federal government will remain closed until Democrats agree to put up more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Chip Reid reports.
2H ago 02:10 
Officials search for victims of Indonesia tsunami
Residents in the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java remain on edge, worried about another tsunami. The recent tsunami struck without warning and killed more than 400 people. Barry Petersen reports.
2H ago 01:25 
Nativity scenes with a twist
A Christmas tradition that stretches back centuries has been updated for modern times. Residents in Naples, Italy, are retelling the fundamental Christmas story set in the manger. Seth Doane reports.
2H ago 02:15
7-year-old who spoke with Trump still believes in Santa
The president told the young girl it was "marginal" for a child of her age to believe in St. Nick
updated 0M ago
Indonesia asks residents to avoid coast near erupting volcano
Official says continuing eruptions could cause landslides and could trigger a second tsunami
updated 40M ago
Jordan Peele debuts first trailer for new horror film "Us"
The film follows a family of four who are haunted by the demonic version of themselves
1H ago
Federal workers struggle as shutdown continues through Christmas
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will work without pay or be furloughed until the government reopens
2H ago
Migrant child dies in Border Patrol custody; second in a month
Customs and Border Protection said the 8-year-old Guatemalan boy died early Christmas morning
3H ago
Nativity scenes with a twist
A Christmas tradition that stretches back centuries has been updated for modern times. Residents in Naples, Italy, are retelling the fundamental Christmas story set in the manger. Seth Doane reports.
2H ago 02:15 
Notable deaths in 2018
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity
Dec 21 139 photos 
Biggest stories of 2018, ranked
This year was a doozy. These were the top stories on CBSNews.com
Dec 6 55 photos 
Yemen's humanitarian crisis
The nation's civil war has claimed at least 10,000 lives, and generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis
Dec 17 24 photos 
The timeless photojournalism of Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington
"War and Peace in Liberia" is a new exhibition in New York City celebrating the work of two acclaimed war photographers, who were both killed in conflict zones
Dec 9 15 photos 
2018 additions to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry
"The Shining," "Jurassic Park," "My Fair Lady" and "Brokeback Mountain" are among the classic films to be preserved for future generations by the Library of Congress
Dec 12 27 photos 
Syracuse recruit makes friend part of signing ceremony
"He taught me that the only disability is a bad attitude," the high school football star said of his friend with cerebral palsy
Dec 20 
Thanks for the help of a loving neighbor
For many people flooded out of their homes in and around Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the most welcoming port in the storm has been a total stranger. Jaret Hucks, who owns the Midtown Inn and Cottages, has given away almost a thousand free nights to this community's poorest and most vulnerable evacuees. Steve Hartman revisits the story he first reported earlier this fall, and about a new flood that followed.
Nov 25 02:13 
Veteran takes 3 buses almost every day to visit wife's grave
She stood by him for 72 years, and he's standing by her now
Dec 19 
Student's dedicated service dog awarded honorary diploma
Grad student Brittany Hawley graduated this weekend — but she didn't cross the stage alone
Dec 19 Original Article
