President Trump pledged Monday that “religion is coming back to America” as he kicked off his first White House Easter Egg Roll since returning to office, a corporate-sponsored event that fell hours after the passing of Pope Francis.
“We’re bringing religion back in America. We’re bringing a lot of things back, but religion is coming back to America. That’s why you see the kind of numbers that you see, the spirit and the kind of numbers that you see,” Trump said from the Blue Room balcony as guests gathered on the South Lawn for the annual event.
The president, standing next to first lady Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny, estimated that 40,000 people would take part in the festivities throughout the day.
He also announced an executive order lowering flags to half-staff to honor the late pope, who died the day after Easter at 88 following a series of health complications.
“I just signed an executive order putting the flags of our country, all of them, all federal flags and state flags, at half mast in honor of Pope Francis. So, he was a good man. Worked hard. He loved the world, and it’s an honor to do that,” Trump said. He later told reporters that he doesn’t yet know whether he’ll attend the pope’s funeral.
Trump also touted military recruitment as he praised the U.S. Marine Corps band, which heralded his entrance.
Trump blew a whistle to kick-start the traditional egg roll, with children racing colorfully dyed eggs down the lawn with wooden spoons. Later, the first lady participated in a hopscotch activity and read the book “Bunny with a Big Heart” to guests.
Tech giants YouTube, Meta and Amazon were among the corporate sponsors of the event, which has been held since the Rutherford B. Hayes administration in 1878 and has been funded without taxpayer dollars through the American Egg Board.
Through an outside production company called Harbinger, the White House reportedly sought sponsorships ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. Amazon was behind a Reading Nook, YouTube was behind the “Bunny Hop Stage” and Meta sponsored an “AI-powered” photo-op, according to the first lady’s office.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, senior White House aide Stephen Miller and FBI Director Kash Patel were spotted among the attendees.
More than 30,000 eggs were reportedly used during the event, against the backdrop of outcry over the cost of eggs. Trump last week had claimed that egg prices are “getting too low.”
The event was also pitched as “part of the lead up” to the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, which falls in July of next year. According to the first lady’s office, activities included signing a mini Declaration of Independence and dressing up as Founding Fathers.
The president on Monday also shrugged off questions from reporters about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid new reporting that the Pentagon leader shared sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen in a private Signal chap that included some of his family members.
“He is doing a great job. … Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said as he stopped by the South Lawn.
