First lady Melania Trump made a fleeting appearance at a White House Christmas event Monday, spending less than three minutes at the annual tree arrival ceremony before abruptly departing, according to a report from The Daily Beast.

Trump was briefly seen taking photos, shaking hands, and greeting attendees after a horse-drawn carriage delivered the official White House Christmas tree. But within approximately two minutes and 50 seconds, she exited the event, leaving reporters and guests surprised by the swift departure.

Ahead of the ceremony, the first lady posted a preview on X showcasing this year’s potential holiday aesthetic — a gold-themed look reminiscent of the décor used throughout the Trump White House.

Melania Trump has been known to be Grinch-like in her approach Christmas traditions. During the first Trump administration, secretly recorded conversations leaked to CNN captured her frustration with holiday expectations. “I’m working my [expletive] off on the Christmas stuff… who gives a [expletive] about the Christmas stuff and decorations?” she said in the recordings.

Her 2018 decorations drew widespread criticism and comparisons to dystopian imagery from The Handmaid’s Tale, which the White House defended the design at the time, describing the minimalist rows of stark red trees as symbolic of valor and bravery.

While this year’s decorations are not yet fully revealed, Melania Trump’s brief appearance has already revived longstanding debates about her enthusiasm for the holiday season — and whether her relationship with White House Christmas traditions has ever fully thawed.