The president and first lady handed out candy to children dressed as superheroes, soldiers, dinosaurs and even Donald Trump himself. The Halloween celebration came hours after Trump campaigned in South Carolina and amid reports that he canceled two upcoming weekend rallies.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed young trick-or-treaters to the White House on Thursday evening for the annual Halloween celebration.
This year’s event was relatively low-key, lasting about an hour, with the Trumps handing out candy directly into children’s bags. Several members of the Trump administration also joined the festivities with their families, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
The White House was decorated with pumpkins and colorful autumn leaves, creating a festive Halloween atmosphere.
Children arrived in a wide variety of costumes, including Barbie, racecar drivers, dinosaurs, animals from Winnie the Pooh, and characters from Toy Story. Some dressed as soldiers, police officers, Secret Service agents, Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter. Others appeared as the Founding Fathers, complete with white wigs and colonial-style outfits.
One costume particularly caught the president’s attention: a young visitor dressed as Trump himself. The child wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat, a white shirt featuring the number 47, representing Trump’s position as the 47th president, and red plaid pajama pants with the words “MAGA for life.”
There were also children dressed as bananas, although the event did not feature the popular Minions costumes that might have been expected.
Adding to the Halloween atmosphere, the Air Force Strolling Strings performed seasonal music, including the theme from Ghostbusters and “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Trump Campaigns in South Carolina Before Canceling Weekend Rallies
Earlier Thursday, Trump traveled to South Carolina to campaign for Republican Senator Darline Graham, who is seeking a full term after being appointed to complete her brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate term following his sudden death in July.
During the campaign event, Trump criticized Graham’s Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, as the two compete in what has become a closely watched race. He also invited several college golfers onto the stage and praised their appearance.
Despite a busy Thursday, Trump has reportedly cleared his weekend campaign schedule. The president was expected to travel to Kansas on Saturday and Iowa on Sunday, but both visits were canceled, according to reports.
The White House Halloween celebration offered a lighter moment for the president, bringing together children, families and senior administration officials amid an active political season.
