President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greeted families at a White House Halloween event on Thursday night.
Trick-or-treaters in a wide range of costumes lined up outside the White House to meet the president. The president was spotted high-fiving a trick-or-treater who dressed up like him, and he greeted two young kids in a wagon with a McDonald’s drive-thru sign.
Earlier Thursday, Vice President JD Vance warned of an air travel “disaster” next month if the government shutdown continues. Vance, joined by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, noted that air traffic controllers are still going unpaid as the government shutdown reaches day 30 and travel ramps up for the holidays.
“It could be a disaster. It really could be, because at that point you’re talking about people missing three paychecks, they’ve missed four paychecks,” Vance said. “How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are still battling over reopening the government as critical funding deadlines for programs such as SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps, are approaching. Trump, who has returned from a trip around East Asia, said he would not speak with Democrats about policy matters, such as affordable healthcare, until they agree to reopen the government.
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Key Points
- Vance accuses Democrats of ‘holding American people’s government hostage’
- Trump and Melania hand out candy in front of White House
- SNAP deadline looms leaving 40 million Americans worried about whether they can get food stamps
- Trump lowers China tariffs to 47% and calls meeting 'great success'
- Pritzker asks Trump to ‘pause’ federal operations over Halloween weekend: ‘give the children a break’
Americans are seriously hating Trump’s decision to tear down the East Wing for a mammoth ballroom, poll finds
00:21
,
Erin Keller
The majority of Americans hate that President Donald Trump’s decision to tear down the White House’s East Wing to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, according to a new poll.
The joint survey by ABC News, Ipsos and The Washington Post found that just 28 percent of U.S. adults support the demolition project, while 56 percent oppose it and 16 percent are undecided.
Keep reading:
Heritage Foundation denies distancing itself from Tucker Carlson following Nick Fuentes interview
23:49
,
Justin Baragona
The Heritage Foundation reaffirmed its admiration for Tucker Carlson, saying it wanted to “put to rest” the speculation that the right-wing think tank was “distancing itself” from the former Fox News star in the wake of conservative outrage over Carlson’s friendly interview with notorious white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Keep reading:
Watch: Trump puts candy on kid's costumed head at White House Halloween event - again
23:34
,
Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Trump and Melania hand out candy in front of White House
23:21
,
Katie Hawkinson
Trump places candy on top of trick-or-treater's costume — again
23:12
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump placed a piece of candy on top of a trick-or-treater’s costume — again.
The moment was reminiscent of an infamous incident from the White House’s Halloween event in 2019, when Trump placed candy on top of a child’s Minion costume.
This time, though, the child appeared to be dressed in a light-up white mask.
Companies involved in White House ballroom construction are taking their websites offline, report says
22:59
,
Mike Bedigan
Several companies involved in President Donald Trump’s controversial remodeling of the White House’s East Wing appear to have taken their websites offline amid heavy criticism of the project.
Some pages claim their sites are “undergoing maintenance” or are – fittingly – under construction, while others have tampered down their social and online presence.
See it: Trump greets trick-or-treaters with McDonald's sign
22:48
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump greeted two trick-or-treaters who arrived in a wagon with a McDonald’s drive-thru sign.
Trump famously operated a McDonald’s fryer for a campaign photo-op last year.
Trump signs Time Magazine covers for trick-or-treater
22:44
,
Katie Hawkinson
One trick-or-treater brought President Donald Trump a copy of Time Magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year issue, which he then signed.
Trump was featured on the magazine’s cover after winning the title in December.
Another trick-or-treater had him sign a different issue of Time Magazine, which featured a photo of him raising his fist after he was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year.
Trick-or-treaters dress up as Trump
22:35
,
Katie Hawkinson
Some White House Halloween trick-or-treaters have dressed up as President Donald Trump himself.
The president high-fived one of the trick-or-treaters, who was wearing his signature red hat and suit.
What costumes have been spotted at the White House Halloween event?
22:25
,
Katie Hawkinson
Kids and families lined up at the White House today to trick-or-treat with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
Popular costumes have included dinosaurs, ballerinas and pumpkins. One trick-or-treater dressed as a McDonald’s french fry box, while another family brought their two small kids in a wagon with a McDonald’s drive-thru sign.
In pictures: Top White House officials attend Halloween event
22:09
,
Katie Hawkinson
President and first lady hand out candy to trick-or-treaters
21:59
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are now handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Instrumental versions of various songs are playing, including “Thriller” and “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
President Donald Trump arrives with first lady
21:52
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump has arrived at the White House Halloween event with first lady Melania Trump.
White House plays Halloween-themed tunes ahead of event
21:46
,
Katie Hawkinson
As spectators wait for the Halloween event to begin, instrumentalists are playing some spooky tunes on the steps of the White House — including the Jaws theme song and the Psycho violin screech.
In pictures: White House decorated for Halloween
21:39
,
Katie Hawkinson
The White House is covered in fall-themed decorations as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host a Halloween event at the White House.
Watch Live: White House hosts Halloween celebration
21:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are hosting a Halloween event at the White House.
Watch live from The Independent:
Trump administration officials warn of air travel 'disaster'
21:22
,
Katie Hawkinson
Vice President JD Vance has warned of an air travel “disaster” if the government shutdown continues into next month.
“It could be a disaster. It really could be, because at that point you’re talking about people have missed three paychecks, they’ve missed four paychecks,” Vance said. “How many of them are not going to show up for work?”
Vance said there will be “massive delays” as employees continue to miss paychecks.
“That’s going to lead to massive delays. We want people to be able to get home for Thanksgiving,” he added. “We want people to be able to travel for business.”
MTG rocks MAGA with announcement she is going on ‘The View’
21:00
,
Eric Garcia
Resident MAGA rogue Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered another surprise in her escalating war with House Republican leadership as she announced on Thursday that she would appear on The View next week.
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg announced that Greene would join the ABC daytime talk show on Tuesday, Election Day in several states, which led to applause. This comes as Greene has increasingly opposed the Republican approach to ending the government shutdown, which is approaching the one-month mark.
“I don’t know how many things we agree on,” Goldberg said. “But I know the one thing she and I and all of us at this table agree on is this should not be affecting the American people.”
What Trump’s nuclear weapons tests could mean for America and the world
20:30
,
Alex Woodward
Donald Trump has repeatedly called the proliferation of nuclear weapons “the n-word,” his way of warning that speaking “nuclear” into existence puts the world on the path of mutually assured destruction.
But 10 months into his second administration, the president is commanding officials to resume nuclear weapons testing, which would end the U.S.’s 33-year moratorium and invite a global arms race in a volatile political moment.
Claiming that the United States must reach parity with weapons development in China and Russia, Trump ordered the Pentagon on October 30 to “start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” a process that will begin “immediately,” he said.
Read more from Alex Woodward:
California senators ask Justice Department to rescind election monitors
20:00
,
Ariana Baio
Democratic Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are asking the Justice Department to call off Trump’s election monitors ahead of election day, November 4.
In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the senators say Trump’s deployment of his election monitors “runs the very real risk of intimidating voters and turning the Department into a tool of partisan and frivolous election-related challenges.”
They say Trump’s motives are “partisan” and intend to “undermine the credibility” of the Justice Department.
Pressed with questions about SNAP funding, Vance diverts answer
19:45
,
Ariana Baio
When asked why the administration moved money to pay troops, but not SNAP payments, Vice President JD Vance asserted Trump was doing everything to make the shutdown “as painless as possible.”
Vance did not answer the reporter’s question directly, instead calling on Democrats to vote with Republicans on a temporary funding bill to reopen the government so the administration doesn’t have to find funding in other places.
The vice president said suffering as a result of the shutdown would get “a lot worse,” yet asserted that Trump was doing everything he could to make the shutdown as painless as possible.
37,000 Veterans Affairs employees furloughed
19:30
,
Ariana Baio
The Department of Veterans Affairs has furloughed roughly 37,000 employees amid the government shutdown, the agency said Thursday.
In an official press release, which attributed the furloughs to “Democrats' decision to shutdown the federal government,” the department said 900,000 veterans were “unable to get assistance from the GI Bill Hotline” and 100,000 cannot enroll in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program as a result.
“It’s time for Democrats to stop using the suffering of Americans as political leverage to give free health care to illegal immigrants,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said in a statement that misrepresented what Democrats are seeking.
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for full Medicaid coverage. Democrats are seeking to restore “lawfully present” immigrants' healthcare benefits – these are individuals who are lawfully in the United States but do not have legal status that is enforceable in court, such as DACA recipients.
“I call on them to open the government and enable VA to provide the complete and comprehensive services America’s Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors have earned,” Collins added.
Transportation Secretary says ‘go ask Democrats’ when questioned about SNAP benefits
19:00
,
Ariana Baio
Using a common Trump administration maneuver, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shifted blame to Democrats when confronted with questions about how the government plans to ensure SNAP beneficiaries receive their payments beginning November 1.
“Go ask the Democrats that question. Say, ‘What are you going to do to make sure people get SNAP benefits this Saturday?’” Duffy said.
“Because we’re doing everything we can on our end,” he asserted.
The Trump administration says it will not dip into emergency funds to ensure SNAP benefits get out after funding runs out on November 1, claiming they do not have the legal standing to do so.
But Democrats are accusing the administration of purposefully withholding funding from SNAP by refusing to tap into an emergency reserve of billions – a mechanism the Department of Agriculture said existed in earlier guidance and had prepared to do for past government shutdowns..
Schumer taunts Trump's China deal as 'BS'
18:45
,
Ariana Baio
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer taunted President Donald Trump over his deal with China, calling it “B.S.”
“Don’t believe his B.S. Trump folded on China,” Schumer wrote.
Earlier in the day, Schumer provoked Trump by insulting his visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, leading the president to angrily post on Truth Social.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 30, 2025
Vance accuses Democrats of ‘holding American people’s government hostage’
18:40
,
Ariana Baio
Vance asserted Democrats were holding the government “hostage” by refusing to vote for the Republicans’ continuing resolution bill that would keep the government temporarily funded.
Mirroring language from Trump, Vance claimed Republicans would talk about policy but not while the government was shutdown.
“To any Democrat in the United States Senate, we are happy to talk about any policy issue, we’re happy to talk about healthcare policy, we’re happy to talk about tax policy, we’re happy to talk about regulatory policy but not at the point of a gun,” Vance said.
“You do not get to take the American people’s government hostage and then demand you be given everything you want in order to pay our air traffic controllers.”
Vance discusses aviation industry amid shutdown
18:35
,
Kelly Rissman
Vice President JD Vance said he “worries” about the workers of the TSA staff, air traffic controllers, pilots and others working in the aviation industry.
As much as delays have gotten worse over the last couple weeks, he also worried about “stresses of the aviation industry” in light of the shutdown, Vance said, noting workers aren’t getting paid.
The shutdown has dragged on for 30 days.
“This is something that every single American should be able to agree on: open the government,” he said at a press conference Thursday. “It’s causing way too many problems.”
Federal agencies are backing plans to ban top-selling home internet router because of national security fears: report
18:20
,
Ariana Baio
Top federal agencies are reportedly hoping to ban future sales from one of the most popular home internet router brands in the U.S., citing China-related national security concerns.
Josh Marcus reports:
Top Trump officials Miller, Noem and Rubio adopt bunker mentality with housing reserved for military officers: report
17:50
,
John Bowden
Top members of Donald Trump’s White House are reportedly living in homes typically reserved for top military brass in Washington, D.C., as they pull back from neighborhoods where their presences were often targeted for protests by the many Democrats who make the capital region their homes.
Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently joined a growing list of cabinet secretaries and advisers who’ve chosen to live in reserved military housing, with Rubio moving onto “Generals Row” in Fort McNair and Miller also living in the area after abandoning his digs in Arlington, The Atlantic reported.
They join Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who moved into military housing earlier this year, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is alone among his compatriots in finding some precedent for his decision to move onto Generals Row alongside Rubio.
Noem denies Prtizker’s request to ‘pause’ Operation Midway Blitz
17:25
,
Ariana Baio
When asked about pausing the operations, Noem said the department was “absolutely not willing” to pause any enforcement, claiming it was keeping cities and children safer.
“The fact that Governor Pritzker is asking for that is shameful and I think unfortunate that he does not recognize how important the work that we do is,” Noem said.
Administration limits number of refugees to mostly white South Africans
17:00
,
Ariana Baio, Alex Woodward
The Trump administration is following through with its plans to restrict the number of refugees admitted into the United States to roughly 7,500 – most of whom will be white South Africans.
The news, published in the Federal Register Thursday, was anticipated.
The plan was reportedly presented to the White House by officials from the State Department and Homeland Security would give preference to English speakers and Europeans, proposals that refugee groups and advocates say undermine the nation’s moral and legal fabric.
JD Vance slammed for saying he hopes his Hindu wife Usha will ‘join Christianity’ at Charlie Kirk event
16:30
,
Andrew Feinberg
Vice President JD Vance is facing sharp criticism after he told a group of college students in Mississippi that he hopes his Hindu wife, second lady Usha Vance, will give up her own faith and become a Christian.
“I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually, my wife comes to see it the same way,” he said.
Read more here:
Pritzker asks Trump to ‘pause’ federal operations over Halloween weekend: ‘give the children a break’
16:00
,
Ariana Baio
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker appealed to senior members of the Trump administration who are overseeing federal immigration operations in Chicago, asking them to “pause” for Halloween weekend to allow children to safely trick-or-treat.
“The Department of Homeland Security claims their highest priority is to protect children, so today I have to ask them, please live up to those ideals,” Pritzker said in a press conference Thursday morning.
“They’ve disrupted everything for more than two months already. Give the children and the families of Illinois a break.”
Pritzker, who has been pushing back against the administration as they send federal agents from various agencies and seek to send members of the National Guard into Chicago.
“Can we agree there is no imminent threat that should disrupt their holiday?” Pritzker said. “No child in America should have to go trick-or-treating in fear that they might be confronted by armed federal agents and have to inhale tear gas.”
“I honestly can’t even believe that I have to make this plea. This is not the America I know.”
Johnson continues to back White House claims about SNAP funding
15:30
,
Ariana Baio
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson continued to support the Trump administration’s claims that there is no funding for SNAP, otherwise known as food stamps.
“When it comes to SNAP, some of the Democrats have argued that you can use this contingency fund, but the truth is, there’s no legal mechanism to do it,” Johnson told reporters.
That claim is a reversal from the first Trump administration, as well as recent contingency guidance from the US Department of Agriculture that said it could tap into leftover emergency funds, maintained in a $5 billion reserve, for necessary situations.
Lawmakers have said the administration has always been able to tap into those funds - though Johnson and others say they, legally, cannot.
When asked why Trump was not using the same strategy to tap into SNAP funds as he did in the first term, Johnson asserted the administration is doing “exactly what it did in the first term.”
In 2018, the Department of Agriculture said it would use a provision to allow it to make payments within 30 days of a government funding lapse.
Without funding for SNAP, millions of beneficiaries who rely on the program could be at risk of going hungry.
Watch: Trump teases invoking Insurrection Act to deploy troops
15:00
,
Ariana Baio
Trump says his meeting with Xi was 'a 12'
14:20
,
Ariana Baio
While speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump hailed his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “a 12.”
“On a scale from zero to 10, with 10 being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12.”
President Trump on meeting with Chinese President Xi: "On a scale from zero to 10, with 10 being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12." pic.twitter.com/TQ5sHBTZi2
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 30, 2025
Chief of naval research replaced with 33-year-old former DOGE worker
14:00
,
Ariana Baio
The Trump administration recently removed a decorated admiral from his post as head of naval research in the Office of Naval Research and replaced him with a 33-year-old former DOGE employee, according to the Bulwark.
Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus, who has served as chief of naval research since June 2023, was reassigned to an unknown position. Rachel Riley, a former partner at McKinsey & Co., who also worked on DOGE-related matters in the Department of Health and Human Services, is in charge.
“Dr. Rachel Riley is serving as the Chief of Naval Research,” a Navy spokesperson told USNI News.
“She brings deep acquisition, technology, and organizational expertise to the job, and we are pleased to welcome her to the team. We thank Rear Adm. Rothenhaus for his service as he is enroute to his next assignment. We do not have additional information to share at this time.”
Controversial surgeon general nominee will face Congress at a later date
13:45
,
Ariana Baio
Dr. Casey Means, a physician-turned-wellness-influencer, will no longer appear before senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday morning because she went into labor, a spokesperson for the committee told NBC News.
Means, a vaccine skeptic, is widely considered a controversial pick to be the U.S.’s top doctor. She was likely to face tough questions from senators who are apprehensive about her role.
Where is the president today?
13:20
,
Ariana Baio
President Donald Trump is expected to return to Washington, D.C., Thursday afternoon from his trip around Asia.
Early Thursday morning, Trump briefly spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One, where he praised Chinese President Xi Jinping and the deal the two struck to lower tariffs, expand access to rare earth minerals, and promote soybean sales from American farmers.
The president also touched on his recent Truth Social post claiming the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons again, claiming the decision had “nothing to do” with China.
“It had to do with others,” Trump said.
“I say well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test.”
Once returning to the White House, the president will join First Lady Melania Trump in celebrating Halloween – an annual tradition for the president and first lady.
Bessent says China will purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans
13:02
,
Ariana Baio
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed more details about the U.S.-China soybean deal, saying China has agreed to purchase 10 million metric tons of soybeans from American farmers
“The Chinese have agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans during this season, right now, between now and it should be January,” Bessent told Fox Business Thursday morning.
Bessent said the deal also includes provisions for the next three years in which China will purchase a “minimum” of 25 million metric tons per annum.
He added that American soybean farmers will no longer be used as “political pawns” by the Chinese.
“We’ve also signed trade deals with countries in Southeast Asia, the rest of the world, to buy our soybeans for the tune of another 19 million metric tons,” Bessent said.
Trump-Xi summit might have ended with fragile tariffs truce but major questions remain
12:43
,
Shweta Sharma
While businesses and markets welcomed the relief in trade tensions, analysts say it is not a structural reset but rather a tactical truce, even as root causes of the tensions remain
Read more here:
'Tensions could easily flare up again' between China and the US, business expert says
12:05
,
Owen Scott
