President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed thousands of children to the South Lawn on Thursday, October 30, 2025, handing out candy during the White House’s Halloween event shortly after returning from a multi‑country visit to Asia.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted trick‑or‑treaters at the White House on Thursday evening, October 30, 2025, as part of the annual South Lawn Halloween tradition. The Office of the First Lady said the event ran from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and was open to ticketholders including military, law enforcement, foster and adoptive families, and Administration staff. The United States Air Force Strolling Strings provided music throughout the evening. According to the White House, thousands of children and parents attended.
The couple handed out full‑size candy in special presidential‑seal packaging. Associated Press photos showed the president in a dark suit and a red “USA” cap, and the first lady in a brown coat with orange accents. The Daily Wire reported the Trumps distributed Hershey’s bars and Twizzlers and that the wrappers featured printed signatures of both Donald and Melania Trump.
This year’s festivities came just hours after Trump returned from an Asia trip that included stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. During the visit, he witnessed the signing in Kuala Lumpur of an expanded Thailand‑Cambodia ceasefire declaration facilitated by Malaysia, and he later met China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where the two sides announced steps to ease trade tensions. Reuters and the Washington Post reported that Tokyo talks produced a critical‑minerals pact and Japanese investment pledges, while Chinese and U.S. readouts confirmed the Trump‑Xi meeting.
Federal agencies and organizations staffed hands‑on stations across the grounds. Per the Office of the First Lady, the U.S. Postal Service offered toy mail trucks and a “BE BEST” postcard station; the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave out mini pumpkins at a giant‑pumpkin photo stop; the International Fresh Produce Association handed out Washington state apples; and the National Confectioners Association supplied additional treats. Other participants included NASA, the National Park Service, the U.S. Mint, the U.S. Secret Service, the White House Historical Association and the Center of Science and Industry.
Senior officials joined the crowd. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attended with her family, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was seen on the lawn, according to wire photos; Daily Wire video and posts highlighted Leavitt’s young son in a pumpkin costume.
A lighthearted moment from the line echoed a viral clip from Trump’s first term: videos posted on X showed the president briefly setting a candy bar on the head of a child in a marshmallow costume, reminiscent of the 2019 “Minion” moment. At one point, the president called out to reporters about the length of the line — “It’s almost as big as the ballroom!” — according to the Daily Wire.
In a statement quoted by the Daily Wire, Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers framed the Asia trip as a success, citing “billions in new investment,” a peace agreement witnessed by Trump, trade and mineral deals, and the meeting with Xi. Independent coverage from Reuters, Xinhua/People’s Daily and other outlets corroborated the ceasefire declaration, minerals agreement and the Trump‑Xi meeting; investment figures were attributed to Japanese commitments reported in Tokyo coverage.