Palm Beach: President Donald Trump used the occasion of Christmas Eve to launch a scathing attack on his political opponents, labelling Democrats as "radical left scum" even as he participated in traditional holiday activities.

The Republican leader spent the day before Christmas at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he balanced festive duties with political combat. His schedule included joining the NORAD Santa tracker calls and delivering holiday messages to American military personnel stationed around the globe.

However, the president’s holiday spirit did not extend to the opposition party. On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted a message that combined season's greetings with sharp partisan rhetoric.

"Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly," Trump wrote. He went on to claim victories for his administration's platform, asserting that the country no longer deals with open borders, transgender inclusion, or weak law enforcement. Instead, he touted a record-breaking stock market, the lowest crime rates in years, and the absence of inflation.

Trump specifically highlighted a recent Commerce Department report showing the U.S. economy expanded at a 4.3 per cent clip in the third quarter, a figure that marked the strongest growth in two years and exceeded expectations by two percentage points.

While the president used the 4.3 per cent GDP figure to deflect Democratic criticism over the cost of living, the government report also contained less favourable data. The price index for domestic purchases reached 3.4 per cent, a substantial jump from the 2.0 per cent inflation rate recorded in the second quarter.

The holiday broadsides follow a tense week in Washington, where Democrats have been pressuring the Justice Department over the handling of records related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Opponents have criticised what they describe as the slow release and excessive redaction of files concerning the former Trump associate.

In addition to his domestic focus, Trump sent Christmas messages to U.S. forces deployed internationally. This included troops involved in a significant naval presence in the Caribbean, part of a broader administration effort to force Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power.

With inputs from AFP