President Trump welcomed hundreds of families to the White House on Monday for the annual Easter Egg Roll immediately after he signed a proclamation instructing all U.S. flags to be flown at half-mast to honor Pope Francis, who died earlier in the day.
“He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world, and it’s an honor to do that. I want to thank everybody for being here,” Mr. Trump said, standing on the south portico balcony with first lady Melania Trump and a suited-up “Easter Bunny.”
Mr. Trump, who said the White House expected more than 40,000 people throughout the day, also praised the National Park Service for decorating the White House lawn, calling it “beautiful and spiffy.”
Mr. and Mrs. Trump then descended the south portico stairs, and the Easter Bunny followed behind, helped by a White House staffer.
The president and the first lady acknowledged the Marine Band playing, and Mr. Trump spoke with reporters briefly, saying he does not know if he will attend the pope’s funeral.
Mr. and Mrs. Trump, along with his family, walked toward the event, where children were lined up with spatulas and brightly pastel-colored hard-boiled eggs, racing one another by pushing the eggs forward with the spatulas.
The president stood close to Mrs. Trump, as he leaned over and talked to one child lined up for the egg roll.
Mr. Trump then asked the children: “Are you ready? One, two, three!” He blew a whistle, and the race began.
This was repeated a few times, and the president noticed one boy had moved forward and had a “head start” on the others.
Mr. and Mrs. Trump then moved on to members of the crowd and sat with children at an activity table. Members of the administration seen at the egg roll included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and FBI Director Kash Patel.
This year’s event offered children and families from across the country the opportunity to experience a day of fun, learning and memorable moments, the White House said ahead of the event.
As part of the lead-up to a nationwide commemoration of the 250th celebration of America’s founding, the America250 initiative was featured on the South Lawn and “brought history to life” for kids and families who could sign a mini Declaration of Independence, dress up as Founding Fathers and enjoy an activity book, “George the Star: An America250 Story.”
The White House Easter Egg Roll officially dates back to 1878 and the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, but first-hand accounts say that informal festivities began with egg-rolling parties under President Abraham Lincoln.
Beginning in the 1870s, Easter Monday celebrations on the U.S. Capitol’s west grounds became so popular that President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill that banned the rolling of eggs on Capitol grounds, citing landscape concerns.
