President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a Halloween celebration at the White House, distributing candy to hundreds of costumed guests, despite a recent international trip and an ongoing government shutdown.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed hundreds of costumed guests, ranging from superheroes and dinosaurs to children dressed as the first couple, for a Halloween celebration at the White House. Emerging to an orchestral version of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller,' neither the President (in a blue suit and 'USA' cap) nor the First Lady (in a brown coat over an orange dress) wore costumes. They handed out full-sized Hershey bars and Twizzlers in boxes with the presidential seal to a long line of children and parents. The event proceeded despite Trump having just returned from a six-day Asia trip and amidst a 30-day government shutdown. The celebration also took place near ongoing construction for a new White House ballroom, which has involved the demolition of the East Wing. The White House exterior was decorated with autumn leaves and carved pumpkins, while tariffs on Chinese imports were noted to have impacted Halloween costume prices. Attendees included children of military members and White House staffers, with various costumes from Spider-Man to princesses, and even a child on an inflatable toilet.
