97°F
weather icon Clear

White House celebrates annual Easter Egg Roll

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump kicked off the annual Easter Egg Roll Monday — the White House’s biggest social event of the year.

“I want to wish everybody a very happy Easter,” Trump said, addressing the crowd from the Truman Balcony, where he was joined by first lady Melania Trump and a bespectacled bunny character.

He also talked about his administration’s investments in the military, saying, “it is being rebuilt to a level we have never seen before.”

Trump later blew a whistle that began an egg roll on the South Lawn — one of many activities organized for the 30,000 adults and children who will stream through the gates all day.

The main event is the traditional rolling of hard-boiled eggs across the lawn, but the first lady has announced two new additions to the lineup of festivities: musical eggs and a game of hopscotch named for her “Be Best” children’s initiative.

There’s also a nook where Mrs. Trump and other officials read storybooks and a station for kids to make greeting cards to send to U.S. troops.

The White House Easter Egg Roll dates to 1878.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Hundreds of students walk out at Stanford University graduation

Hundreds of Stanford University students walked out of their graduation ceremony Sunday in a show of support for Palestinians, capping a tumultuous year on campus rocked by protests related to the Israel-Hamas war.

8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza

Israel’s military said Saturday that eight soldiers were killed in southern Gaza in the deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months.

US Navy faces its most intense combat since World War II

“It is every single day, every single watch, and some of our ships have been out here for seven-plus months doing that,” said Capt. David Wroe, the commodore overseeing the guided missile destroyers.