President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed thousands of families to the White House on Easter Monday for the beloved annual Easter Egg Roll.
Held on the South Lawn, the event brought together nearly 30,000 eggs and as many as 42,000 attendees throughout the day.
The occasion was infused with both fun and history, with this year’s theme celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s founding. Children dressed up as the Founding Fathers and signed miniature replicas of the Declaration of Independence, blending education with entertainment.
A Presidential Whistle and a Moment of Coloring
At around 11 a.m. ET, President Trump and the First Lady stepped out onto the South Portico, joined by the festive Easter Bunny. After addressing the crowd and greeting reporters, the President playfully joined the children at the starting line of an egg roll race, blowing the whistle with First Lady Melania and cheering the kids on.
Later, Trump sat at a coloring table with children, showing a lighter side of presidential life. The event saw attendance from both lottery winners across all 56 U.S. states and territories and children with political ties.
Honoring a Tradition — and a Pope
The White House Easter Egg Roll has roots that go back to the 19th century. While some believe informal egg-rolling occurred as early as Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the first official event took place in 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes.
That year, children who had been banned from the U.S. Capitol grounds for egg rolling due to landscaping concerns approached the White House. Hayes welcomed them in — and the tradition was born.