President bites baby at Hallowe’en party

US president gets into spirit of spooky annual gathering as wife Jill dresses up as a panda

Joe Biden jokingly bit four babies during a trick-or-treat Hallowe’en party at the White House.
The US president greeted a group of children at the annual costume event, including a mother who had dressed her child as a turkey.
Mr Biden, 81 playfully bit the baby’s leg, to the amusement of guests including his wife, Jill, who was dressed as a giant panda.
Earlier this year, the First Lady had supported the announcement that pandas would be returning to the National Zoo in Washington.
Mr Biden then repeated the joke when another mother presented a baby dressed as an ice cream cone to him moments later. He is well known for stopping at parlours to eat ice cream during presidential trips.
He also took a mock bite from the leg of another baby who was wearing a blue dress.
Around 8,000 people, including students and children tied to the US military, attended the Halloween party. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, brought his children to the event.
The theme of the event was “Hallo-read”, in a nod to Mrs Biden’s 40 years of teaching.
She handed out copies of children’s book 10 Spooky Pumpkins while the president gave out sweets with the White House seal and his signature. An Air Force band played spooky music to fit the theme.
Mr Biden has been under fire from Republicans after seemingly describing supporters of Donald Trump as “garbage” on Wednesday.
The comment could damage the election campaign of Kamala Harris, who Mr Biden has endorsed as his successor.