President Biden hosts Halloween event outside White House, gives out candy to trick-or-treaters

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted a Halloween event at the White House where they met trick-or-treaters and distributed candy.

The Halloween outfits donned by trick-or-treaters varied from Michael Myers, to Spider-man to princesses.

It was the Bidens’ first opportunity to welcome trick-or-treaters as President and first lady. They were in Europe for Halloween last year, which was their first in the White House. The White House was lit up orange for Halloween.

5,000 guests, both children and their adult chaperones, braved the rain to attend “Trick-or-Treating in the President and First Lady’s Neighborhood.”

Those invited included children of local firefighters, nurses, police officers and National Guard members who were through local community groups, labor unions and other organizations, the White House confirmed. Children of administration officials also attended the event.

President Joe Biden donned a navy raincoat and baseball cap, while Jill Biden was dressed in butterfly wings and a purple wig. The candy handed out included chocolate kisses and candy bars and were provided by the National Confectioners Association.

In previous Halloween visits, trick-or-treaters have been given little boxes of presidential M&Ms or White House-baked cookies. Michelle Obama added dried fruit as part of her mission to help children eat better quality food.

The White House has hosted a Halloween celebration since mid-20th century, according to the White House Historical Association, a private, nonprofit organization.

The last Halloween event held was in 2020 by then President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump where trick-or-treaters dressed up as superheroes, unicorns, skeletons and even a miniature version of Donald Trump.