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President Barack Obama played golf with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak
What do two world leaders do when they find themselves on the same Hawaiian island on Christmas Eve? If you’re President Barack Obama and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, you round up a few aides and make common cause on the golf course.
Both vacationing this week in Oahu, Obama and Najib teed off Wednesday at a Marine Corps base in Kaneohe. Although Obama plays golf nearly every day while on vacation, he typically restricts his foursome to a small circle of longtime friends and advisers. But in recent years, his annual trip to Hawaii has allowed Obama to mix in a little diplomacy. Last year, he hit the links with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who owns a home in Hawaii.
Media access to Obama’s golf games is typically restricted, but reporters and photographers were permitted to briefly watch the two leaders Wednesday about halfway through their game.
"Merry Christmas," Obama said as he waved to the media.
Then he added a note of caution for reporters covering his Hawaiian getaway.
"Be careful about those fruity drinks," he said. "You never know — they might have a little kick to them."
The president has played a round four out of the five days he’s been on the island so far.
Meanwhile, first lady Michelle Obama answered calls from children asking where Santa was.
The first lady spent about 30 minutes speaking with children tracking Santa Claus’ progress across the world with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). It was her fifth year participating in the Christmas Eve tradition.
This year, the first lady fielded a half-dozen calls while Santa was swooping down in Italy, Kosovo and the Czech Republic.
"Do you believe in Santa?" asked Sara, an 8-year-old from Ontario, Canada.
Michelle Obama replied that she did — and the president does, too.
"That’s why I try to be good all year. I try to help other people and eat my vegetables, and be kind to all the kids that I know because I believe that Santa is watching," the first lady said.
