Donald Trump emerged from an oversized fireplace as fake snow blasted him in a dramatic Christmas-themed entrance to a rally in Mississippi.
The US President came through the prop at the event in Biloxi as he supported Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, in a move which has divided opinion.
After he took to the podium, he said: "Look snow. I didn't know what was going on, this is.
“I said you sure this is indoors? That beautiful snow looked so real.
“That's the end of my suit. That's the end of the hair for tonight."
After this he addressed the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and said: “There’s nothing like a Trump rally.”
People clad in Santa and Mrs Claus outfits also emerged from the entrance during the event, with the song Don’t Stop Believing blasting out as they waved to the crowds.
Kathryn Watson, a CBS journalist in attendance, shared a video of the faux-flakes falling down and wrote: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Biloxi.”
Some welcomed the theme, which saw stockings hung, Christmas trees, fake presents alongside swathes of green and red around the call.
“So cool to see the Christmas theme at the Trump rally in Biloxi tonight,” said one, commenting on the Make America Great Again, MAGA, event.
However, it was met with disdain by many, with some likening the President to the Krampus as opposed to Santa Claus.
The Krampus is a character from European folklore, often depicted as a half-goat demon with horns, who punishes badly behaved children at Christmas time.
A CBS journalist, Mark Knoller, wrote: “Pres enters rally through entrance made to look like a fireplace/chimney - like Santa Claus. Stockings hang on wall.”
Which prompted one person to reply: “It's so disappointing when people expect Santa, but instead get Krampus the Christmas demon.”
Another shared a GIF of the Grinch, while called him "the Grinch who stole America".
The nickname 'Trumpus' was coined by another.
President Trump attended the rally to support Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is in a close race against Democrat Mike Espy in Mississippi.
He did this ahead of a run-off vote on Tuesday, which will determine whether Republicans widen their control of the US Senate to 53 to 47 seats when the new Congress takes office early next year.
Senator Hyde-Smith remains a narrow favourite to win.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump defended Ms Hyde-Smith from criticism after a video surfaced showing her praising a supporter at public event on November 2 by saying: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."
This sparked controversy in a state with a history of racism and lynchings.
Mr Trump said her comments struck him as "something that was sad" and a little flippant.
But he stated that she had apologised for them when they spoke about it on the phone.
"Iâve gotten to know her over the last period of time as a senator, as a very, very talented United States senator and I know where her heart is, and her heart is good. That’s not what she was meaning when she said that," he said.
