President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed young trick-or-treaters to the White House South Lawn on Thursday evening, squeezing in the Halloween appearance between campaign rallies and the thunder of passing jet engines.
Trump wore a dark blue suit and royal blue tie, while Melania appeared in a brown Noor Hammour trench coat paired with Manolo snake-print pumps as they distributed candy to guests.
The guest list included military personnel, law enforcement officers, and foster and adoptive families. According to the First Lady’s office, the South Portico featured a harvest-moon design while a band performed nearby.
The US Air Force Strolling Strings provided the soundtrack, performing eerie arrangements inspired by Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Jaws and other Halloween favorites on violins and cellos.
Trump and Melania stepped outside holding the hand of a young girl as costumed children and their families formed a line for candy and photographs.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attended with his wife, Jennifer, and several of their children. The president and first lady also greeted Trump adviser Stephen Miller, his wife Katie Miller and their children.
A towering inflatable moon was positioned above the White House’s southern facade, overlooking the president and first lady as they met the crowd. A “Halloween 2026” sign hung over the doorway.
The celebration gained an added burst of spectacle when Air Force One flew low and slowly over the residence, making a pass for the families gathered in costume.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hand out candy as they welcome children during the ‘Halloween at the White House’ event on October 29, 2026 in Washington
The president attended a campaign rally in South Carolina just hours before the event
The White House announced it had a ‘harvest moon’ theme for this year’s decorations
The new aircraft, presented to Trump by Qatari officials, made two passes above the executive residence during the festivities.
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Trump appeared upbeat throughout the event, which offered the Republican president a short break from an intense campaign schedule.
Earlier in the day, Trump appeared at a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he urged supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot.”
Once the trick-or-treating line comes to an end, Trump is scheduled to conduct two additional tele-rallies.
The spooky White House gathering unfolded against the backdrop of a fiercely contested campaign, with Election Day set for Tuesday and Republicans battling to retain control of both chambers of Congress.
Recent polls and forecasts have increasingly pointed toward Democratic gains, with the party widely favored to capture control of both the House and Senate.
Trump is due in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday for another rally as he continues campaigning for Republicans in the final stretch of the midterm contest.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and their children attended the event. They were in line next to Trump adviser Stephen Miller and his wife Katie Miller, along with their children
Donald Trump and Melania handing out candy at the White House in 2025, rehashing a 2019 party trick from where he puts a bar of chocolate on a trick-or-treater’s head
On Saturday – the actual day of Halloween – Trump was expected to hold a rally in Kansas, but it was canceled on Thursday.
The president appears poised to return to his Mar-a-Lago home on Saturday, potentially arriving as early as Friday, according to The Palm Beach Daily News.
The outlet reported that flight restrictions related to presidential travel were to be expected over the weekend.
The Mar-a-Lago Club’s annual Halloween bash is also expected on Saturday night.