President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump handed out sweets to children at the White House Halloween celebration on Thursday evening, as Air Force One made two low passes over the South Lawn.
The event brought military, law enforcement, foster and adoptive families to the presidential residence, where the South Portico had been decorated with a harvest-moon theme.
Trump wore a dark blue suit and royal blue tie, while Mrs Trump attended in a brown trench coat and snakeskin-patterned shoes. The couple walked on to the lawn holding the hand of a young girl as families gathered for photographs and treats.
A giant inflatable moon hung above the southern facade, with a sign reading “Halloween 2026” displayed over the entrance.
Music was provided by the US Air Force Strolling Strings, whose repertoire included themes from Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Jaws.
Air Force One then flew overhead, travelling low and slowly for the costumed guests. The aircraft, which was gifted to the president by Qatari officials, made two passes over the executive residence.
Among those attending were Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, his wife Jennifer and several of their children. Trump adviser Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, also joined the queue with their children.
The Halloween gathering offered the president a brief break from a packed campaign schedule. Earlier in the day, he had attended a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he told supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot”.
He was due to take part in two further tele-rallies after the White House event, while a planned rally in Kansas on Saturday was cancelled on Thursday.
The annual celebration is a long-standing White House tradition, dating back to President Dwight Eisenhower’s term in 1958. Trump and Melania Trump also handed out candy at last year’s event, when the president repeated a Halloween joke associated with a 2019 celebration by placing a chocolate bar on the head of a child in a costume.
This year’s festivities took place during the final days of the midterm campaign, with Election Day approaching and Republicans fighting to retain control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump was expected to travel to Daytona Beach, Florida, on Friday for another rally as he campaigned for Republicans. He was also expected to return to his Mar-a-Lago home, where the club’s annual Halloween party was due to take place on Saturday night.
