Karoline Leavitt melts hearts with son Niko in pumpkin costume at White House Halloween party

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt drew attention during the annual Halloween celebration at the White House on Thursday, October 30, where she appeared with her infant son, Niko, dressed adorably as a pumpkin. 

The sighting comes amid a recent wave of controversy surrounding Leavitt’s sharp online exchanges with members of the press.

Karoline Leavitt brings her son to White House Halloween event

As President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump handed out candy to children on the South Lawn, Leavitt was seen approaching them with her one-year-old son. In footage posted on X, she appeared in a black coat while holding Niko on her hip as she chatted with Melania.

Niko, wearing a pumpkin outfit with orange and green tights, caught the attention of onlookers.

Leavitt and her son then greeted Trump, who offered her a candy bar during their brief exchange. A man in a suit holding another child followed closely behind as the pair moved along the receiving line.

Trump, Melania host hundreds at festive White House Halloween bash

Trump hosted hundreds of costumed guests, from superheroes to dinosaurs and even a few children dressed as the first couple, for Thursday night’s Halloween celebration at the White House. 

As evening fell, the first couple emerged onto the South Lawn to an orchestral version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Neither wore costumes; Trump sported a blue suit, red tie, and a “USA” cap, while Melania wore a brown coat over an orange dress.

They handed out full-sized Hershey bars and Twizzlers in boxes with the presidential seal to a long line of children and parents.

Temporary walls partially blocked the view of Trump’s new White House ballroom construction, which led to the demolition of the East Wing, though a parked bulldozer was visible behind them. “It’s a long line,” Trump joked. “It’s almost as big as the ballroom.”

Playful moments with children

Among the attendees were children of military members and White House staffers. Katie Miller, a former Trump aide, came as a skeleton alongside her husband, Stephen Miller, who wore a business suit.

Children came dressed as Spider-Man, Captain America, ballerinas, princesses, and leprechauns. Two boys showed up in suits and red Trump hats, mimicking the president’s signature look, while a young girl donned a white coat similar to Melania’s style.

Some children appeared shy when meeting the Trumps, though the president tried to put them at ease. At one point, he was seen speaking to a child whose costume featured an inflatable toilet marked “Wide Load,” a moment that drew laughter from nearby guests.