Brief
Trump hosts tame White House Halloween after past Minions mishap
The event lasted about an hour, featured pumpkins, fall leaves and families of senior staff, and followed Trump’s campaign stop in South Carolina.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania held a Halloween gathering at the White House on Thursday evening, according to the Independent. The hour‑long event was described as "fairly tame" and avoided the viral moment from Trump’s first term when he placed a candy bar on the head of a child in a Minions costume.
During the 2019 incident, a child in an inflatable Minions outfit approached the Trumps for sweets; instead of putting the candy in the child’s bag, Trump put it on the child’s head, a moment that drew widespread criticism. In contrast, this year the Trumps handed out candy directly into children’s bags. The White House was decorated with pumpkins and autumn leaves, and a few trick‑or‑treaters wore banana costumes – a nod to the Minions’ favorite treat.
Children arrived in a variety of costumes, including Barbie, race‑car drivers, Toy Story characters, dinosaurs, Winnie‑the‑Pooh animals, soldiers, police officers, Secret Service members, Uncle Sam, Rosie the Riveter, and even Founding Fathers with white wigs. One older child posed for a photo with Trump and Melania wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat, a white long‑sleeve shirt marked with the number 47 and red flannel pajama pants that read "MAGA for life".
Members of the Trump administration joined the festivities with their families. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller were among those present. Musical accompaniment came from the Air Force Strolling Strings, which played Halloween tunes ranging from the "Ghostbusters" theme to the "Time Warp" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
Earlier on Thursday, Trump traveled to South Carolina to campaign for Republican Senator Darline Graham, who is seeking a full term after being appointed to finish her brother Lindsey Graham’s seat following his sudden death in July.
Key facts
- The White House Halloween event lasted about an hour and was described as fairly tame. (independent.co.uk)
- Trump avoided the 2019 Minions candy‑on‑head incident by placing candy directly into children's bags. (independent.co.uk)
- Administration officials Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller attended with their families. (independent.co.uk)
- Children wore costumes ranging from Barbie to Founding Fathers, with a few dressed as bananas. (independent.co.uk)
- Trump campaigned in South Carolina earlier that day for Senator Darline Graham. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Donald Trump avoids another infamous Minions moment at White House Halloween event”
