Christmas in July is not a new concept.
Stores do sales around that theme and cable channels run Christmas movie marathons in the middle of summer.
So First Lady Melania Trump announcing her Christmas preparations are under way on Wednesday, July 24 is not too absurd.
Except....
A little something else was going on in Washington DC on Wednesday. Special Counsel Robert Mueller gave congressional testimony on Capitol Hill.
Could Melania's Christmas in July be... a distraction?
The FLOTUS tweeted:
"#Christmas planning has begun in the East Wing at the [White House]. I'm looking forward to sharing our final vision for this unique tradition in the coming months."
#Christmas planning has begun in the East Wing at the @WhiteHouse. I'm looking forward to sharing our final vision… https://t.co/4i6YXuI6bZ— Melania Trump (@Melania Trump)1563983754.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse This looks normal.— Tony Posnanski (@Tony Posnanski)1563988226.0
How distracting could a First Lady's Christmas decorations be?
Well...
@tonyposnanski @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse "Unique" Christmas decor = "Creepy and unsettling" What will this year's theme… https://t.co/Sd6GpFzXh1— Probably Mortal 📝 (@Probably Mortal 📝)1563988469.0
@ProbablyMortal @tonyposnanski @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse This season is all about fences and walls for those foreign unin… https://t.co/uYetTN3bZD— Lara C (@Lara C)1564013430.0
@larac327 @ProbablyMortal @tonyposnanski @FLOTUS @WhiteHouse I think the theme is “go back to where you came from”… https://t.co/ra8xFE1adS— jenn Ⓧ (@jenn Ⓧ)1564015929.0
Melania Trump's unique Christmas decorating style drew much mocking in 2017 and 2018.
Apparently people haven't forgotten the "spooky forest" or "return to Gilead" themes.
I don’t know how people can claim Melania’s not happy in the White House. Just look how totally devoid of dread and… https://t.co/RYvwpylbLi— Hadley Freeman (@Hadley Freeman)1511900527.0
Melania Trump mocked for ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ White House Christmas trees video https://t.co/0vJc8CuEtx— Raw Story (@Raw Story)1543268408.0
You can easily set Melania Trump's Christmas White House videos to various horror movie soundtracks.— Chuck Wendig (@Chuck Wendig)1543245493.0
I've figured it out. This whole first lady stint is an elaborate audition for a "White House Christmas Horror" movi… https://t.co/PW9FwOA3Wb— Erika thinks it's time to impeach (@Erika thinks it's time to impeach)1543247815.0
That's a pretty good distraction.
@graemhoek I can’t pay attention to this. I’m too busy looking at Melania‘s plans for the next Christmas hall of horror in the White House.— KnowYourRabbit (@KnowYourRabbit)1564008709.0
#Mueller testifies, #Trump yells, #Giuliani dyes his hair & #Melania gets ready for Christmas! https://t.co/bUuSEqzFTB— Jimmy Kimmel (@Jimmy Kimmel)1564056911.0
Melania tweeting about Christmas in the middle of a sweltering July while kids are dying in cages may be one of the grossest things yet.— saira rao (@saira rao)1563996067.0
Mueller: I didn’t recommend impeachment because I’m not permitted to do so. Melania: It’s almost CHRISTMAS!! Ahh!… https://t.co/X9x0E695ar— A$AP CURRY (@A$AP CURRY)1563985553.0
Don't worry, everyone. Christmas will still go on this year. Melania Trump is ON IT. https://t.co/wmOUJIDxIC— Hemant Mehta (@Hemant Mehta)1563993934.0
@HoodlumRIP Nice Melania is able to plan Christmas six months in advance while her husband is still caging children… https://t.co/3OFfPrHfWS— Steve Kosareff (@Steve Kosareff)1564015314.0
Meanwhile... Melania Trump tweeted in the middle of Mueller’s testimony that she was preparing for Christmas, whic… https://t.co/X5r3HdKaxI— The Tweetwit (@The Tweetwit)1564011867.0
@RepPeteStauber That's very nice. And Melania is planning her Christmas decorations. Any comments about what happen… https://t.co/gU9UXUgFeH— Swip85 (@Swip85)1564002819.0
@thehill It’s like Christmas to Melania right now because she knows Donald is going to prison soon.— Valhalla (@Valhalla)1564002030.0
Melania out here fighting the War On Christmas in 100 degree weather while Michelle Obama had the unmitigated gall… https://t.co/LuOkhB7PCD— Jimmy Traina (@Jimmy Traina)1563998752.0
@ChristnNitemare Melania, dear, a few things to think about: (1) Christmas is five months away. (2) Maybe you shou… https://t.co/d1rAAqPJf4— Ahab (@Ahab)1563996255.0
A few people were all in for Melania though.
In a not at all creepy way.
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse OUR MELANIA the only person inside the beltway that has their priorities right on. MERRY CHRISTMAS MELANIA.— DULCE (@DULCE)1564018900.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse Everyday is Christmas with our Melania. MERRY CHRISTMAS MELANIA. JESUS LOVES YOU for making eac… https://t.co/mP2tRo3HYK— DULCE (@DULCE)1564018384.0
Distraction achieved!
@Steffes @wendydshaffer Ooh, last year Melania went with a Handmaid's Tale Christmas. Maybe this year it will be a… https://t.co/tYyJpawtmU— W. M. (@W. M.)1563998719.0
@FLOTUS @WhiteHouse All Melania wants for Christmas is to be single again— CR (@CR)1563990033.0
The book Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump's Women is available here.