Nothing like a little trick-or-treating to thaw the media’s scary relationship with President Trump.
Mr. Trump invited children of the White House press corps to the Oval Office in their costumes to meet him and pose for pictures during the annual Halloween festivities at the White House Friday.
As the kids dressed as Darth Vader, a unicorn and Princess Leia gathered around the Resolute Desk for a photo with the president, Mr. Trump teased some of their journalist parents who were in attendance.
“I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful children,” the president said to laughter. “How the media did this, I don’t know.”
Turning to the children, the president asked, “Are you going to grow up and be like your parents? Mmm, don’t answer that. It can only get me in trouble. You have wonderful parents, right?”
Moments later, he asked the children to more laughter, “So how does the press treat you? You get treated better by the press than anybody in the world, right?”
Pointing to the press pool, Mr. Trump told the kids jokingly, “They are the friendly media.”
“These are beautiful, wonderful children,” Mr. Trump said, chatting with the children as they picked out treats. “Halloween is special. This is from the White House. You have no weight problems; that’s the good news, right? You take whatever you need.”
To Darth Vader, Mr. Trump said, “Wow, that’s a scary outfit.”
The White House press staff were dressed out in cowboy boots and hats as they introduced the group of 10 or so kids to the president.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a mother of three young children, had announced at the end of her daily press briefing that the president would meet the reporters’ children who had arrived for the annual event. She encouraged journalists to bring their costumed kids into the Oval Office “so that you can sugar them up and take them home to your house.”
The White House on Monday will host its annual Halloween festivities with schoolchildren and parents from more than 20 Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia schools, as well as military families and community organizations.
Trick-or-treaters will see the South Portico decorated in spider webs, among bats, fog machines and orange pumpkins with profiles of past presidents. The president and first lady Melania Trump will be handing out cookies created by the White House pastry kitchen, as well as presidential M&M’s and other candies.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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