The Last Halloween Celebration of the Biden Family at the White House

On Wednesday evening, November 1, U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden celebrated Halloween for the last time in the outdoor area of the White House, hosting trick-or-treaters. Jill Biden, dressed in a giant panda costume, had participated earlier this year in the ceremony announcing the return of pandas to the National Zoo in Washington. The pandas arrived in Washington at the end of October this year, and according to the White House, the First Lady wore the panda costume to 'welcome' them. Jill Biden also added an educational aspect to the event by introducing a reading ceremony named 'Hallow-Read,' which encourages children to read books. Jill Biden, who has been a teacher for 40 years, read a picture book about pumpkin ghosts to a group of children dressed in costumes gathered on the White House lawn. Joe and Jill Biden stepped outside the White House at sunset and spent about an hour handing out treats. Joe Biden tossed boxes of White House chocolates into the children's bags, while Jill Biden gifted copies of the book '10 Spooky Pumpkins' to the kids. The South Lawn of the White House was decorated with a large orange moon that read 'Hallow-Reading at the White House,' a cardboard cutout of the Biden family's cat 'Willow,' stacks of books, and a giant pumpkin. It was expected that throughout the day, eight thousand people, including children and students from military families, would visit the White House. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago praised Joe Biden's 'lifetime of service' to America, while Biden stated he decided to pass the torch to a new generation, emphasizing that the fate of democracy is in the hands of the people. There were widespread reactions to Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election and his support for Kamala Harris's candidacy. A look back at Biden's half-century of service in various political arenas in the United States was also highlighted.