Trump celebrates Halloween with minions, his lookalikes, superheroes amid shutdown; greets trick-or-treaters | Video

Coinciding with one of the longest government shutdowns in US history, US President Donald Trump celebrated Halloween this year in his signature style. The 79-year-old- Republican hosted hundreds of costumed guests ranging from superheroes, dinosaurs to children dressed as the first couple on Thursday, 30 October.

During the Halloween celebrations at the White House, the couple handed out full-sized Hershey bars and Twizzlers in boxes yielding presidential seal to all those eagerly waiting with their trick-or-treat bags. The line of children and their parents, yearning to receive the treat from Trump and the first lady Melania Trump, stretched down the driveway.

Though neither of two hosts wore costumes but were prepared with their basket of treats while Trump donned red USA hat and his quintessential red tie. The trick-or-treaters who had lined up outside the White House were dressed like the president, some like Spider-Man and Captain America, ballerinas, princesses and another as minion.

Meanwhile, temporary screens obscured the view of the demolished East Wing and of the ongoing construction of new White House ballroom.

Referring to the $300 million White House ballroom that will boast a capacity of 999 people, Trump joked, “It’s a long line. It’s almost as big as the ballroom" AP reported.

The US president attended the White House Halloween bash hours after concluding weeklong trip to Asia. Amid a government shutdown in its 30th day, the US President returned after a six-day trip to Malaysia, Japan, South Korea.

US shutdown

Many basic government services across the United States have been affected by the shutdown including air traffic and national parks services. Around 42 million low-income Americans will lose access to essential help with grocery bills from Saturday onwards as food stamps will not be issued for November. Food stamp recipients included 39% children, 20% elderly and 10% non-elderly individuals with a disability, according to the latest data from the USDA.

Households received about $350 a month, on average, in SNAP benefits but the US Department of Agriculture had said that it does not have the money to pay $8 billion food stamp benefits for November.

A fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, Lauren Bauer, informed CNN that the assistance in the form of food stamps doesn’t expire at the end of each month, but beneficiaries typically use all the funds in the month they receive them.