Halloween came a little early at the White House as US President Donald Trump welcomed the children of reporters into the Oval Office for some early Halloween treats.

More than a dozen costumed kids, including little witches and Princess Leias, a pint-sized Darth Vader, and a purple-haired unicorn gathered around the Resolute Desk, where Mr Trump handed out little boxes of White House chocolates.

Mr Trump also dispensed plenty of compliments, congratulating the kids’ parents for doing a good job — at least of raising children, if not their coverage of the Trump White House.

“I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful kids. How the media did this, I don’t know,” he said as he welcomed the children to join him around his desk.

Mr Trump also joked with the kids about their parents’ professions.

“You going to grow up to be like your parents?” he asked.

“Don’t answer. That can only get me in trouble, that question.”

Soon after, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivered a box full of lollies, and the President started handing out the treats.

“You have no weight problems, that’s the good news, right?” he said at one point.

“So you take out whatever you need, OK? If you want some for your friends, take ’em. We have plenty.”

He also asked one little girl how the press treated her.

“I’ll bet you get treated better by the press than anybody in the world, right?” he joked.

Mr Trump will also be welcoming ghost and goblins to the South Lawn for trick-or-treating on the eve of Halloween on Monday.

—AP