Rep. Tim Burchett announced in a video on X that his annual congressional Christmas party will be limited to 15 minutes this year, down from 16 last year. He said the short run is meant to avoid being cornered by overly tipsy guests. Burchett started the brief Hill tradition in 2022; last year, expelled Rep. George Santos showed up in a Santa suit. The event is scheduled for Thursday and will feature simple snacks like Ritz Crackers, peanut butter and jelly bars, and Mountain Dew.
Rep. Tim Burchett Says His Congressional Christmas Party Will Last Just 15 Minutes
05:57 AM, 12/09/2025
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) teased the return of his short, annual congressional holiday gathering in a video posted Monday to the social platform X, saying the event this year will last just 15 minutes.
Burchett explained the strict time limit in the clip: “Everybody’s asking about the Christmas party and asking, ‘This legit?’ You can Google it. It’s 15 minutes long this year. Last year, it went to 16, but we thought it dragged on too much. But, 15 minutes.”
“You go to a dadgum Christmas party and what happens? You get cornered by somebody who’s half-lit and they got wine breath, and they’re cornering you in the corner — over there and for 15 minutes, and that’s about all you can take. So, I’m thinking, 15 minutes is all you need for a dadgum Christmas party, you can say your piece and go on about it.”
Burchett launched the brief holiday reception on Capitol Hill in 2022 and has held it each year since. He noted that last year expelled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) briefly attended the event wearing a Santa suit.
Logistics and Menu
In the video, Burchett said the party is scheduled for Thursday and teased a simple spread of snacks: Ritz Crackers, peanut butter and jelly bars, and Mountain Dew. The format is intentionally minimal — a quick, casual stop for lawmakers and staffers to exchange greetings without a long commitment.
Context: The short duration and informal menu are meant to keep the gathering light and fast-paced, reflecting Burchett’s aim to avoid long, awkward encounters common at larger holiday parties.
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