In the glittering glow of palm trees and chandeliers, US President Donald Trump and Melania celebrated Halloween at Mar-a-Lago Last Night turned Florida's most famous estate turned into a scene straight out of a Jazz Age fever dream. It was October 31, 2025, and while pumpkins carved smiles across America, the Trumps threw open the doors of their Palm Beach paradise for a bash that screamed excess. Themed around F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby—with the cheeky tagline "A little party never killed nobody" borrowed from the 2013 movie soundtrack—this event mixed spooky fun with old-school glamour. But as fireworks lit the night sky, whispers of political storm clouds loomed large, reminding everyone that even Halloween can't fully escape Washington's drama.
Mar-a-Lago's grand arches draped in neon banners, red lanterns casting a warm, eerie light over mosaic floors, and yellow-and-white bunting fluttering like ghosts in the breeze. The pool shimmered with oversized silver and gold balloons bobbing like forgotten party favors, while inside, antique wood panels framed a massive portrait of a young, athletic Trump—frozen in time, tie straight, hair perfect. Giant props stole the show: one guest posed triumphantly inside a supersized martini glass, another lounged in a champagne flute big enough for two. It was over-the-top, unapologetic, and very Trump. Exotic cocktails flowed from crystal decanters, and dessert tables groaned under towers of macaroons and creamy cheesecakes. Burlesque dancers in laced flapper dresses and feather headbands twirled through the crowd, fanning themselves with ostrich plumes in a nod to Prohibition-era speakeasies. The air buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, and the faint thump of a live band playing ragtime remixed with modern beats.
At the heart of it all was US President Donald Trump and Melania, who celebrated Halloween at Mar-a-Lago Last Night, the power couple who made the night unforgettable. Donald, ever the showman, ditched a full costume for his signature navy suit, crisp white shirt, and bold red tie—looking more like a Gatsby-era tycoon than a trick-or-treater. He held court at a candlelit table, grinning ear-to-ear as he chatted with guests and posed for selfies. Melania, radiant in a sleek black gown with subtle sequin accents that caught the light like stars, glided through the room with her trademark poise. She wasn't in full flapper mode, but her elegant updo and pearl earrings fit the theme perfectly. Earlier that week, the couple had charmed kids at a White House trick-or-treat event, where Donald playfully dropped candy into bags held by little ones dressed as Minions and DJ Marshmello—a sweet callback to their 2019 antics. Melania even knelt to comfort a teary-eyed girl scared by the crowd, her gentle touch going viral on social media.
But the real magic—or mischief—happened in quiet moments. A lip reader, poring over grainy party footage, caught Trump leaning into Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a rare, tender whisper: "No small talk. One night, I don’t want to be disturbed and want to spend some time with Melania before I leave." It was a sweet, human glimpse amid the spectacle, hinting at the downtime the president craved after a grueling Asia trip. Rubio, in a sharp tuxedo, nodded knowingly, his wife Jeanette stunning in a silky white gown and long pearl strands that screamed old Hollywood. Nearby sat Fox News firebrand Judge Jeanine Pirro, rocking a glittering emerald dress with feathered edges, her laughter booming as she swapped stories with the group. Tiffany Trump's husband, Michael Boulos, joined the table too, while Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner mingled elsewhere in coordinated 1920s chic—she in a beaded shift dress, he in a pinstripe vest.
The guest list read like a who's who of MAGA loyalists and A-listers: political heavyweights rubbing shoulders with celebrities who'd flown in on private jets. Dancers in showgirl outfits high-kicked across the terrace, and waitstaff in vintage uniforms darted about with trays of spiked punch. Trump even joined an impromptu conga line, his booming laugh cutting through the music as he waved a white napkin like a flag of surrender to the fun. Social media lit up with snaps—Jeanette Rubio posting a group shot captioned "Gatsby nights at the club," and attendees gushing about the "epic vibes." One video clip, shared widely, showed Trump beaming as feather-fanned performers swirled around him, the red-lit arches framing his silhouette like a movie poster.
Yet, for all its sparkle, the party cast a long shadow. Timed just hours before federal SNAP benefits—vital food assistance for 42 million Americans—were set to lapse amid the ongoing government shutdown, critics pounced. Democrats called it tone-deaf, pointing to The Great Gatsby's own critique of wealth gaps. DNC Chair Ken Martin blasted Trump for "not giving a damn about anyone but himself and his wealthy friends," while Sen. Chris Murphy labeled it "a display of inhumanity." California Gov. Gavin Newsom piled on, tweeting that the bash embodied the very inequality Fitzgerald skewered. Even a Republican congressman drew fire for quipping that SNAP users should "stop smoking crack" to get by— a remark that went over like a lead balloon. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly fired back, urging Democrats to "reopen the government" and end the stalemate. Trump, unfazed, told reporters his team was just seeking "legal clarity" on funding during the shutdown. In a last-minute twist, federal judges in Rhode Island and Boston temporarily blocked the cuts, buying time but not resolving the mess.
As a reporter who has covered numerous Trump events, this one feels like a microcosm of his world: lavish escapism clashing with real-world grit. Mar-a-Lago has long been Trump's recharge spot, a fortress of gold where he plots comebacks and unwinds. Hosting here, post-Asia jet lag and pre-election buzz, showed his knack for blending family, fun, and politics. Melania's quiet elegance balanced his bombast, their whispered plans a reminder that even presidents need date nights.
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