WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump expected to welcome 40,000 people to the first White House Easter Egg Roll of his second term on Monday.
The president and first lady addressed the crowd from a White House balcony before they joined the festivities.
He said he signed an executive order to fly all federal and state flags at half-staff in honor of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 Monday morning.
“He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world and it’s an honor to do that,” President Trump said.
Trump also thanked first lady Melania Trump for organizing the annual White House event.
Children lined up to guide colorfully dyed hard-boiled eggs across a patch of lawn to a finish line. There was also an egg hunt and activities to promote next year’s 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
Kids and families could sign a mini-Declaration of Independence or dress up as Founding Fathers during the daylong event that features multiple activity stations, live performances and story times, including readings by the first lady and administration officials.
Egg Board President and CEO Emily Metz says the eggs were hand-dyed by board staff and volunteers and delivered to the White House on Friday.
She said the board understands the frustration felt by egg farmers and consumers over the egg shortage caused by the spread of avian flu and how expensive it’s become to buy a dozen.
She said these donated eggs were small and medium, sizes not typically sold by retailers, to avoid contributing to even higher prices. Nearly 9 million dozen eggs are sold daily in the United States, she noted.
“You cannot have the White House Easter Egg Roll without real eggs,” Metz said in an interview.