WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump hosted hundreds of costumed guests — from superheroes to dinosaurs and even a few children dressed as the first couple — as part of Thursday night’s Halloween celebration at the White House.
He and First Lady Melania Trump stepped onto the South Lawn as the evening descended to an orchestral version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Nobody was in costume. Trump wore a blue suit and red tie with a red “USA” cap; his wife wore a brown coat over an orange dress.
The couple handed out enormous Hershey bars and Twizzlers in boxes emblazoned with the presidential seal to a line of children and their parents that stretched down the driveway. Makeshift walls blocked the view of construction of Trump’s up-to-date White House ballroom – leading to the demolition of the East Wing – although a parked bulldozer could still be seen on the other side.
“It’s a long line,” Trump said. “It’s almost as big as the ballroom.”
The White House tradition continued despite Trump returning just hours earlier from a six-day trip to Asia that took him to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea amid a government shutdown entering its 30th day.
Trump has called for the government to reopen, but Democrats in Congress are demanding an extension of expiring tax credits that have helped millions of people afford health insurance. Her Republican colleagues say they won’t negotiate until the government reopens.
Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports have reduced inventories and increased prices on Halloween costumes for American importers, retailers and buyers. Still, dozens of decorations resembling enormous fall leaves and fall flowers like orange and red mums could be seen on the outside of the White House. The stairs leading to the balcony were full of carved pumpkins.
Among the children who attended the Halloween party were children of military personnel and White House staff. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, arrived with her teenage son dressed as a pumpkin. Katie Miller, a former Trump administration adviser, was dressed like a skeleton, while her husband Stephen, Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff, wore only a business suit.
Hundreds of children, from toddlers to teenagers, came dressed as Spider-Man and Captain America, ballerinas, princesses and goblins. Two boys wore suits, Trump hats and grinned like the president, although they didn’t try to rip off his trademark hairstyle, while a girl with them wore a white coat over a dress like the first lady might prefer.
Several parents wore “USA” hats like Trump.
Some children were shy or timid about talking to the Trumps, but the president said something inaudible to a child whose costume involved sitting with his pants down on an inflatable toilet that said “Wide Load” on the back.
