Joe Biden whispered creepily in a little boy’s ear as the first lady dressed as a cat as she welcomed children to the annual Halloween party at the White House.
The president planted a kiss on the boy’s cheek as he was carried by his mother and then presented him with a package of candy on the South Lawn Monday.
The 80-year-old commander in chief opted for non-spooky attire – he wore a baseball cap and suit – while his wife Jill was made up like Willow the “first cat” and sported ears and furry cuffs on her gray dress.
Biden theatrically feigned being frightened by a parade of dinosaurs, skeletons, witches and superheroes trick-or-treating.
The First Lady put on her teacher’s hat to host a “Hello READ!” where the White House was decorated with famous literary characters – like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy’s giant ruby slippers stood on one side of the portico of the White House.
US President Joe Biden kisses a baby as he hands out candy to trick-or-treaters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington
President Joe Biden reacts to a blue baby dinosaur
Jill Biden reads “10 Scary Pumpkins” to children in the White House
Jill Biden developed a literary theme and moderated a “Hello READ!” event.
Jill also hosted a reading corner where she read “10 Scary Pumpkins” to the children. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dressed as an angel as she read “First Broom.”
“I had a choice – to be either an angel or a devil.” “I chose an angel,” she said.
Approximately 8,000 guests attended the spooky event, including local public school students and children associated with the military.
The weather added to the atmosphere. The sky over the White House was eerie and the clouds rolled in as the event began.
The rain started, but it didn’t stop the fun. The president and first lady both posed for selfies while greeting parents and children alike.
But the evening got so cold that Jill Biden put a coat over her dress.
A few familiar faces made their way through the trick-or-treating line.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken came through with his two children. White House Counsel Anita Dunn brought her family, as did OMB Director Sholanda Young.
Former House Deputy Speaker Patrick McHenry walked the line.
President Joe Biden gives a kiss to a little girl dressed as a pumpkin
Jill Biden dresses up as Willow, her cat who lives in the White House
President Joe Biden picks up a book while handing out candy to children
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dressed as an angel
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden trick-or-treating dressed as Batman
US President Joe Biden distributes sweets to children
President Biden greets a boy in military uniform
President Biden welcomes a trick-or-treater
President Biden with two baseball players
The President and a pumpkin head
Not only did President Biden feign fear at the sight of a blue baby dinosaur and a skeleton, he also greeted a little boy in a military uniform and took a toy ice cream cone from a child who offered one to him.
He shook boxes of M&Ms to make them rattle as he waved the children over to get their sweet treats. He also handed out Hershey kisses in a box with the president’s signature.
Pumpkins, gourds, hay bales and corn stalks were the decorations of choice. Yellow and orange flowers dotted the South Lawn.
The fountain had artificial bubbles that resembled a witch’s cauldron.
In the White House itself, there was a large full moon on the Truman Balcony with a witch flying in front of it.
On the south portico were cardboard cutouts of Willow and Commander. Stacks of cardboard books completed the look.
Various cabinet agencies attended the event and set up stalls to distribute sweets.
The Ministry of Education distributed Smarties. The Secret Service had one of its patrol cars that children could sit in. The State Department handed out gummy bears.
Snacks included carrot-shaped cookies and round cookies with a green monster face. There was warm apple cider to drink.
The chilly celebrations at the White House were a harbinger of official holiday weather to come.
A cold snap is spreading across the U.S. and will affect much of the Midwest, South and East, forecasts show – including nearly all of the Lower 48 states.
The cold air phenomenon began on Monday and is expected to peak later this week. As a result, about 60 million Americans — from the lowlands of the Lone Star State to the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley — are under a freeze or freeze warning.
Another 200 million people are at risk of experiencing unusually cold weather in one way or another, according to experts.
President Biden handed out M&Ms with the presidential seal
A group of skeletons with the president
President Biden pretends to eat an ice cream cone
President Biden with Secretary of State Tony Blinken and his children
President Biden with White House Counsel Anita Dunn
White House decorations included items from “The Wizard of Oz.”
A witch flies on the Trump balcony
There were cardboard cutouts of Willow and Commander
It also rained at the Bidens’ Halloween event in 2022. This year, the Bidens hosted trick-or-treating at the White House for Halloween for the first time. In 2021, they were on an official trip to Europe for the holidays and instead lit up the White House in orange.
According to the White House Historical Association, Halloween has been celebrated at the White House since the mid-20th century.
Mamie Eisenhower first decorated the White House for Halloween in 1958.
Since then, some sort of Halloween celebration has typically taken place at the White House.