DISCLAIMER: This article was first published on October 28, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled this year’s White House Halloween decorations, and the reaction hasn’t been positive.
According to HuffPost, “critics are calling it chilling- not because of the decidedly non-spooky, pumpkin-heavy decor, but because, as was pointed out on social media, millions of Americans are set to lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as they won’t be issued Nov. 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown.”
The decorations, consistently mostly of pumpkins, don’t seem much more effort-heavy than those of a typical suburban home at Halloween time:
The @whitehouse is getting ready for Halloween 🎃 pic.twitter.com/J7LAs6hqfl
— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) October 28, 2025
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“The image prompted some to quip that the White House didn’t need extra scary touches because, they said, it’s already terrifying enough with its current occupants,” HuffPost said.
The Daily Beast, meanwhile, quipped that Melania had decorated “what’s left of” the White House.
The White House also put out a press release, discussing this year’s Halloween plans, including the announcement that the complex would be open to trick-or-treaters on Thursday.
“On Thursday, October 30, 2025, First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald J. Trump will open the South Lawn of the White House to trick or treaters of all ages,” the release said. “During this special White House tradition, thousands of children and their parents will proceed around the South Lawn to visit various trick-or-treat booths and enjoy the autumnal decorations on the South Portico of the White House.”
Some social media users roasted the half-hearted decorations:
Why not just dump this Halloween mess all into the huge void the demolished East Wing has made? https://t.co/Iv0FQWxv7r pic.twitter.com/mL3LuQCyv0
— KarlaHandsOffOurHealthCare Franklin (@KGFranklin54) October 29, 2025
No need to decorate this place for Halloween, just bring the tenants to the doorstep. https://t.co/EZz2AZ8dH4
— Sverrir Gauti (@SGAUTI2) October 28, 2025
“Pumpkins” is not a design theme. https://t.co/CILkQrq2RA
— NYC Weboy (aka Wesley) (@nycweboy) October 29, 2025
I thought houses with sex offenders can’t hand out candy? https://t.co/JEHdjZBpNu
— Eric Garcia for Congress (@EricG1247) October 29, 2025
The White House is already plenty scary just by itself right now, no need to add on. https://t.co/Z6NskZhis6
— Michael Kinsman (@mhkinsvoice) October 28, 2025
Are you going to give out those pumpkins to the people who are about to go hungry from losing their SNAP benefits or you’re going to tell them to go eat cake. https://t.co/CYxsYVbt69 pic.twitter.com/5F6RhIQKV7
— Thelma Kerry (@ttunyi) October 28, 2025
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
