Overview
- The White House welcomed costumed children and their families for a trick-or-treat event on the South Lawn reserved for invited guests including military personnel, law enforcement, foster and adoptive families, and government staff.
- President Trump and First Lady Melania handed out Hershey’s and Twizzlers presented in boxes bearing the presidential seal, with additional candy provided by the National Confectioners Association and Washington apples supplied by the International Fresh Produce Association.
- Festivities featured live music from the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings, toy trucks from the U.S. Postal Service, and a U.S. Department of Agriculture photo spot with a giant pumpkin and take-home pumpkins.
- Participating organizations included NASA, the National Park Service, the U.S. Mint, the Secret Service, the White House Historical Association, and the Center of Science and Industry.
- The president repeated a lighthearted 2019 moment by placing a chocolate bar on a child’s helmet-style mask, while elaborate seasonal displays and the event’s scale prompted complaints about spending as observers note Halloween has widened into a month-long, high-spending season.