President Joe Biden got into the act during his final Halloween at the White House on Wednesday, biting three babies, feigning fright at scary-looking kids, and being convinced by a few children to give them more than one box of candy.
First lady Jill Biden got into the spirit too, dressing up as a panda bear for the occasion.
But the president, 81, stole the show. As the line of a few hundred children went by, he bite one tyke dressed as a chicken.
He feigned fear at a scary-looking tiger and aliens. He bit a second baby’s foot. He looked down the throat of a T-Rex.
He kissed a ghost. He let a little George Washington persuade him for a second round of candy. He bit a third baby. He was shocked to see a giant chicken.
Joe Biden playfully bites a baby during trick-or-treating at the White House
The president bites the toes of a baby
Biden gives a third baby a nip
Hallo-read was the theme of the evening in a nod to the first lady’s 40 years of teaching. She handed out copies of the kids’ book ’10 Spooky Pumpkins’ while the president handed out candy with the White House seal and his signature.
In addition to the local students and military-connected children who got their treats from the first couple, several administration staff brought their kids to have one last fright fest at the White House.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought his kids for the fun. OMB director Sholanda Young, who got a big hug from the president, brought her daughter.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre brought her daughter too.
The president also took time to nuzzle the baby of his aide Ashley Williams. The baby was being held by his long time staffer and current deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini.
The president happily chatted with the kids as he handed out the sweet treats, sometimes taking so long a line of kids piled up waiting for him.
One little boy dressed as Spiderman did a dance to pass the time. An Air Force band played spooky music to fit the theme.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at their last Halloween at the White House
President Biden kisses a baby ghost
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre brought her daughter to the final Halloween at the White House
The president is surprised by a large chicken
At one point the first lady removed the head of her costume
President Biden nuzzled the baby of his aide Ashley Williams (right). The baby was being held by his long time staffer and current deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini.
The president feigns fear at a tiger
At one point the first lady took off her panda head, but kept passing out books as the line of costumed children continued. She had joined the National Zoo earlier this year in announcing that a pair of pandas were coming.
The first couple spent about an hour outside handing out treats to ghosts, goblins, a bus (the president tossed a couple of boxes of candy inside), a unicorn, a cheerleader, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, and a variety of animals.
Games were set up on the South Lawn and various government agencies had booths to pass out sweet treats.
The Beast was parked at the bottom of the driveway for photo-ops.
Darth Vader and two Storm Troops – sans weapons – were available for selfies as were Disney’s Lilo and Stitch.
The South Lawn was filled with bunches of pumpkins, corn, hay bales and other fall-themed decorations.
The staircases leading to the South Portico were also decorated with various pumpkins and mums, along with two large jack-o-lanterns and a trellis made of books.
President Biden looks down the throat of a T-rex
First lady Jill Biden, dressed as a panda, hands out books to a trick-or-treater
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his son greet President Biden
In total about 8,000 kids celebrated Halloween at the White House
President Biden feigns fear at an alien
Darth Vader and two storm troopers on the South Lawn
The White House decorated for Halloween
There was also a large orange moon with flying books hanging below the Truman Balcony.
The fountain on the South Lawn was dyed green for the occasion.
Earlier in the day, the first lady read a short story about spooky pumpkins to a group of costumed children gathered on the lawn.
About 8,000 guests in total participated in this year’s Halloween event at the White House, making their way through the festivities throughout the day.
