HYGO News Biden's First White House Halloween: A Raincoat, Butterfly Wings and a Lavender Wig (October 31, 2022)
One week before the 2022 midterms, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden opened the South Lawn to trick-or-treaters. “POTUS and FLOTUS stepped out of the White House at 5:15p. POTUS wore a navy blue raincoat and a baseball cap, while FLOTUS dressed as a butterfly, with teal wings and a lavender wig,” the White House pool reported [1].
“POTUS and FLOTUS are handing out boxes containing Hershey’s kisses,” the pooler wrote. “The music, by the presidents own marine band, is too loud for your pooler to make out what the President and First Lady are saying to the trick or treaters, but your pooler is trying!” [1]
The video above shows the Bidens at the White House Halloween event on Oct. 31, 2022. Quotes are from the White House pool reports published by the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].
”He Made the Sign of the Cross”
Cabinet members brought their kids, too. “Members of the administration, including education secretary Miguel Cardona and deputy cabinet Secretary Dan Koh, are trick or treating with their children,” the pool reported [1].
“POTUS and FLOTUS are still handing out candy, which includes fun-size candy bars in addition to the boxes of Kisses,” the pooler added. The White House said “Halloween treats are provided by the National Confectioners Association” [1].
The pooler kept a list of costumes. “When POTUS saw a child dressed as a monk, he made the sign of the cross,” the report said [1].
“POTUS and FLOTUS have also given candy to Piglet, Glinda the Good Witch, a family dressed up as ‘Duck duck goose,’ a tiny giraffe, a lot of Spidermen, an astronaut, a flamingo, Uncle Sam and a zombie founding father, who got a pat on the shoulder from the President,” the pool reported [1].
“The President has shaken hands with a kid dressed like the Scream villain, hugged a boy dressed as a squirrel and handed candy to a pair of Buzz Lightyears,” a later report said [1].
A “Spooky” South Lawn
Before the Bidens came out, “a live band is playing the Game of Thrones theme. In a stroke of Halloween luck, it has stopped raining for now,” the pool wrote. “There are pumpkins and enormous pots of orange mums set up in front of glowing cut outs of buildings, some of which have ravens or black cats in the windows. Spooky!” [1]
The guests were the families of local first responders. The White House said it was “hosting local children of firefighters, nurses, police officers, and members of the National Guard at the White House for trick-or-treating,” the pool relayed [1].
“Disney characters Doc McStuffins and Vampirina, PBS KIDS characters Daniel Tiger, Donkey Hodie, Alma, and Xavier Riddle, and Star Wars characters Darth Vader and stormtroopers” also walked through what the White House called the “President and First Lady’s Neighborhood,” according to the background [1].
Gas Prices First
The President had a busy day. Earlier, “POTUS remarks on oil companies and gas prices began at 4:34p,” the pool reported, and “He calls their profits a ‘windfall of war.’” [1]
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “whose father’s memorial service POTUS attended this morning in NYC,” came by with his family. “His two young children were dressed in tiny suits,” the pooler noted [1].
The night ended with a wave. “At 6:30p, POTUS appeared on the balcony. He waved at the crowd — which still included a long line of trick or treaters — and went back inside at 6:31p,” the pool reported [1].
By the Numbers
- 5:15 p.m.: when the Bidens came out [1].
- 1+ hour: how long they handed out candy, per the pool [1].
- 6:53 p.m.: when the White House called a lid [1].
What Happened Next
The Trumps took over the candy. On Oct. 30, 2025, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted their own South Lawn Halloween. “FLOTUS and POTUS came out of the diplomatic entrance at 5:49 pm to an orchestra version of Thriller,” the first lady’s pool reported [2].
“The first couple is handing out full-sized Hershey bars and Twizzlers in boxes with the presidential seal,” the pool wrote. “POTUS is in a blue suit, red tie and red USA hat.” [2]
The guests “include the parents and children of military, law enforcement, foster and adoptive families,” according to the pool [2].
Administration families joined the line. “Stephen and Katie Miller and their children are among the first in line. Katie is dressed as a skeleton,” the pooler wrote. “And Karoline Leavitt is there also with her husband and son, who is dressed as a pumpkin.” [2]
The decorations had a harvest theme. “Lots of pumpkins around the portico balcony and its staircase (the pumpkins will be donated to DC Central Kitchen, per the East Wing),” the pool reported, and “A sign reads Halloween 2025.” [2] Some of the music was the same as in 2022: “And Air Force string quartet is playing music appropriate for the holiday including the Harry Potter theme and Game of Thrones theme,” the pooler wrote [2]. Trump had just returned from Asia; “Air Force One was wheels down at 2:37 pm ET,” the travel pool reported [3].
For Biden’s “windfall of war” remarks that afternoon, see HYGO News’ page on Oct. 31, 2022.