Joe Biden and Jill Biden hosted their final Halloween celebration at the White House on Wednesday, where the president’s interactions [1] with young trick-or-treaters raised eyebrows.
The event [2], held on the South Lawn, brought together local students and military families for an evening of candy, costumes, and photo opportunities with the Bidens.
A moment during the Halloween festivities gained widespread attention when President Biden appeared to “bite” a baby dressed as a piece of candy.
In a clip circulating online, Biden can be seen leaning in and lightly pressing his mouth on the child’s leg, drawing a second round of laughter and smiles as he moved closer to the infant’s face.
The background audio from the Halloween event, which played the theme music from “Jaws,” synchronized with the president’s playful gestures, adding a theatrical effect to the interaction.
Biden just bit a baby at the White House pic.twitter.com/i66Lai3lhu [3]
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 30, 2024 [4]
Joe Biden bites a baby during a Halloween celebration at the White House tonight pic.twitter.com/pHYlabE0jF [5]
— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) October 30, 2024 [6]
Following this encounter, reports and images surfaced of Biden repeating similar actions with other infants, including one dressed as a chicken and another in a ghost costume.
Libs of TikTok posted an image that showed the president gently biting the leg of a baby in a ghost onesie, while other photos depict Biden putting an infant’s foot in his mouth in a humorous gesture.
WTF Biden is apparently going around biting babies pic.twitter.com/I6ra7tGLHB [7]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 31, 2024 [8]
According to reports, the president repeated this playful act with different babies throughout the evening.
Joe Biden is literally trying to eat a baby pic.twitter.com/ybgznrPxis [9]
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) October 31, 2024 [10]
Not AI pic.twitter.com/1oRJm6XS15 [11]
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 31, 2024 [12]
The reactions to Biden’s interactions have varied. While some social media users expressed amusement, others have raised questions, with some pointing to past occasions when Biden’s behavior around children has come under scrutiny.
This is not the first time Biden has faced reactions to his conduct during holiday-themed events, including previous Halloween and Easter celebrations.
Last Halloween, the president appeared slightly disoriented during a photo opportunity, with First Lady Jill Biden assisting him to pose with young trick-or-treaters.
The Halloween event continued with more traditional activities as the president and first lady handed out candy and books to children.
Jill Biden, dressed as a giant panda, read a Halloween-themed story to a group of children gathered on the South Lawn.
TRUMP DRESSES AS A GARBAGE COLLECTOR, JILL BIDEN AS A PANDA BEAR
The simulation might need a factory reset pic.twitter.com/K6NK8I1oPB [13]
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 31, 2024 [14]
The event was part of an annual tradition that allows children to visit the White House, greet the first family, and receive treats.
During this event, the president was also seen interacting closely with the children, at one point coughing into his hand before handing out candy—a detail that caught the attention of some due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Joe Biden’s interactions with young children have been a recurring topic of discussion over his years in public service, with videos of him hugging, kissing, and engaging with children receiving mixed reactions.
Biden’s gestures, including the latest biting, are often seen by supporters as affectionate and light-hearted, though some critics have pointed to these interactions as unconventional.
This Halloween event added to a series of memorable moments from Biden’s holiday appearances.
During the 2022 White House Easter Egg Roll, the president appeared to briefly veer off from the scheduled activities, leading to a humorous intervention by an Easter Bunny mascot who helped redirect him.
Flashback — Rambling Joe Biden saved by the Easter Bunnypic.twitter.com/23MskRAU2a [15]
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 9, 2023 [16]
Similarly, at last year’s Halloween celebration, Biden’s interactions with children sparked conversation after he briefly seemed confused by the photo session setup.
As the footage and photos from Wednesday’s Halloween celebration continue to circulate, reactions remain divided.
For supporters, the event showcased a relatable and animated side of the president, while critics have used the moment to question his public interactions.