President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed hundreds of costumed children to a Halloween party at the White House, stepping onto the South Lawn to an orchestral “Thriller” while handing out full-sized Hershey bars and Twizzlers in presidential-seal boxes. Temporary barriers masked construction of a new ballroom and demolition of the East Wing, though a bulldozer loomed beyond. The celebration went on despite Trump’s same-day return from a six-day Asia trip and the government shutdown’s 30th day, as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds over expiring health insurance tax credits.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.