By Emily Goodin, Senior US Politics Reporter 11:23 p.m. Oct. 30, 2023, updated 11:57 p.m. Oct. 30, 2023
- The Bidens hosted nearly 8,000 guests on a rainy Halloween
- Biden handed out presidential M&Ms, Jill Biden handed out books
- The president pretended to be frightened at the sight of scary children
President Joe Biden was so scared when he saw children in scary costumes at the White House that he dropped the presidential M&Ms he passed out.
The Commander-in-Chief convincingly feigned fear as an army of dinosaurs, skeletons, witches, Barney the Dinosaur, Mario and Luigi, ghost hunters and superheroes trick-or-treated on the South Lawn of the White House.
As he dropped the candy, he bent down to pick it up and dropped it into the bag instead.
Next to him was Jill Biden dressed as Willow, the first cat, complete with ears, a tail and a face made up with whiskers. The president didn’t opt for a costume, instead appearing in the suit he had worn all day and complementing his ensemble with a ball cap bearing the presidential seal.
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.
President Joe Biden reacts to a blue baby dinosaur. Jill Biden reads “10 Scary Pumpkins” to children at the White House. Jill Biden created a literary theme and hosted a “Hello READ!” event.
Jill Biden 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 reaches for a book President Joe Biden dressed as an angel and First Lady Jill Biden trick-or-treat with someone dressed as Batman. 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.