Compiled from reports by USA Today and East Wing Magazine. See the original articles linked below.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed children and families to the White House for a Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 29, 2026, according to USA Today and East Wing Magazine.
USA Today reported that the event took place five days before Election Day, and that Trump set aside his midterm campaigning to take part. The newspaper said he had made a campaign stop in South Carolina earlier the same afternoon and got back to Washington roughly half an hour before the festivities started.
Flyover and music
East Wing Magazine reported that the Trumps handed out candy to thousands of children and parents, with the South Portico dressed for autumn in pumpkins and a large glowing replica of the full moon. The Air Force Strolling Strings performed Halloween-themed music, the outlet wrote.
The magazine said Air Force One passed over the White House shortly after the event opened and made a second pass from the opposite direction two minutes later. It used that flyover as the subtitle of its report.
Costumes and guests
According to USA Today, costumes among the visitors included Rosie the Riveter, Uncle Sam, Dolly Parton and characters from Toy Story. The paper reported that members of the administration, among them Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller, Russell Vought and Keith Sonderling, joined the trick-or-treat line with their families.
USA Today said children received large Hershey bars bearing the presidential seal and the signatures of the president and first lady.
Agencies and organizations
East Wing Magazine listed a number of government and private participants. The U.S. Postal Service provided toy mail trucks and a postcard station themed around the first lady's "Be Best" initiative. The Department of Agriculture set up a giant pumpkin as a photo spot and offered miniature pumpkins grown by American farmers. The Treasury Department handed out coloring books, which USA Today said promoted "Trump Accounts." The International Fresh Produce Association supplied Michigan apples, and the National Confectioners Association supplied treats, the magazine wrote.
Running past the scheduled finish
USA Today reported that the event closed with a long line of trick-or-treaters who had not yet reached the president. It said Trump appeared reluctant to wrap up, remaining outside with the first lady for about five minutes beyond the planned end time to listen and dance to the Air Force musicians.
USA Today also noted that, according to the White House Historical Association, Halloween celebrations at the White House go back to 1958, when First Lady Mamie Eisenhower decorated with skeletons, jack-o'-lanterns and dried corn stalks.
The two outlets' accounts are consistent on the date and the main features of the evening. Only East Wing Magazine described the flyover and the full list of participating organizations in detail, while the USA Today report concentrated on the campaign context, the guests and the costumes.
Sources
- Trump takes midterm break for White House trick-or-treaters (USA Today, 2026-10-29)
- The Trumps Greet Trick-or-Treaters at the White House (East Wing Magazine, 2026-10-29)
This article was compiled with AI assistance from the reports listed above and reviewed by GMA before publishing.