Babies, bunnies and Biden: Joe nuzzles a young girl and stops another from crying as he joins thousands of children and son Hunter for the White House Easter Egg Roll
President Joe Biden comforted a crying girl, helped another in the egg race and encouraged children during a wet and rainy Easter egg roll at the White House on Monday.
First lady Jill Biden and their son Hunter joined the president on the South Lawn for the celebratory occasion, which was not spoiled by the repeated rain that fell on the crowd of thousands.
“Easter reminds us of the power of hope and renewal,” he added. “It’s time to pray for each other.”
President Joe Biden talks to a child in the White House Easter Egg Roll
The start time of this year’s Easter Egg Roll was delayed by an hour as early morning lightning storms passed through Washington DC
The 40,000 expected attendees – 10,000 more than last year – bundled up in coats, ponchos and umbrellas to protect themselves from the elements. One child wore a blue poncho in the shape of a dinosaur.
Longtime teacher Jill Biden added educational components to the celebration, including stations where children could learn about agriculture, healthier eating, exercise and more. The theme of the event was an Egg-ucation.
“Education broadens our horizons and takes us to new worlds,” said Jill Biden in welcome greetings.
“I hope you all learn something new today. But most importantly, I hope you all have fun.”
Miniature hot air balloons labeled Engineering, Science, Technology, Math and Art adorned the back of the White House.
A large schoolhouse on the South Lawn offered activities for children in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, including making circuit breakers or simulating a fossil dig.
“I’m a teacher, so I enjoy every moment we can turn the White House into a classroom,” the first lady said.
The Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition that started in 1878, allowed children to write notes to U.S. troops and first responders from Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization.
Both Bidens joined the children on the South Lawn for the traditional egg race, in which children flutter hard-boiled eggs across the lawn with a wooden spoon.
Biden introduced himself to the children and comforted a little girl who was crying. He helped another get her egg across the finish line.
He and the first lady took turns blowing the starting whistle.
A child wearing a dinosaur poncho at the White House Easter Egg Roll
Hunter Biden kisses a baby as he greets guests on the South Lawn
President Joe Biden chatted with children on the South Lawn
President Joe Biden comforts a little girl who was crying
President Biden is helping with the egg race
Later, Jill Biden read Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see for a group of children as the rain continued to fall. She then posed for photos.
The event’s guests included thousands of military and veteran families, their caregivers and survivors. The general public could apply for tickets through an online lottery and were admitted to the evening in nine waves.
Among those with the children was Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6 and is now running for Congress in Maryland. Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, now running for Senate, high-fives children after their role.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby brought his grandchildren to experience the festivities. Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Debbie Stabenow were also seen among the crowd.
The holiday was not without controversy, which Biden addressed to reporters.
He told the press he had not named Easter Sunday Transgender Day of Visibility and called chairman Michael Johnson “fully uniformed” for making that claim.
Biden outraged conservatives this weekend with his proclamation recognizing the day to celebrate the lives and contributions of transgender people.
Johnson, former President Donald Trump and many other conservatives condemned Biden, with the speaker calling the president’s move “outrageous.”
“I didn’t do that,” Biden said when asked about calling Easter Transgender Day of Visibility.
President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and the Easter Bunnies at the White House
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed nearly 40,000 guests to the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll
Hunter Biden joined his father, President Joe Biden, on the South Lawn
President Joe Biden blows the starting whistle as Jill Biden cheers on the children during the Egg Race
Jill Biden reads Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see?
Since 2009, March 31 has been declared a day to honor the transgender movement internationally. This year, March 31 was also Easter Sunday.
The president, asked to respond to Johnson’s criticism, said: “He is completely uninformed.
Transgender Day of Visibility was founded by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the executive director of advocacy group Transgender Michigan.
The holiday is “a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of transgender people, while also highlighting the poverty, discrimination and violence the community faces,” according to nonprofit organization GLAAD.
Biden released a statement Saturday to mark the occasion: “On Transgender Day of Visibility, we honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our nation’s commitment to building a more perfect Union – where all people are equal are created and treated equally everywhere. their lives,” it said.
“Today we send a message to all transgender Americans: you are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire government and I stand with you.”
Biden was the first US president in 2021 to issue a formal proclamation recognizing the event.
President Joe Biden talks to a guest at the Easter Egg Roll
President Joe Biden, center left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, center right, joined by first lady Jill Biden, left, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, right, wave at the White House Easter egg roll on the South Lawn
The theme of this year’s Easter egg roll was ‘Egg-ucation’
Conservatives were outraged, led by Trump, Biden’s rival in the 2024 presidential race.
Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, labeled the proclamation “appalling and insulting.”
She claimed the announcement was evidence of the Biden administration’s “years-long assault on the Christian faith.”
And House Speaker Mike Johnson called the proclamation “abhorrent.”
“The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Banning sacred truth and tradition – while at the same time declaring Easter Sunday ‘Transgender Day’ – is outrageous and abhorrent,” he said.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates hit back, saying, “As a As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American.”
“Unfortunately, it is not surprising that politicians seek to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or profiteering.”
And the eggs for Monday’s event caused their own controversy.
The first lady invited the children of military families to send decorated eggs to the White House so they could be displayed during the Egg Roll.
The invitation called for children from National Guard families to submit artwork to be painted on eggs, but prohibited “any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.”
In response to the criticism, Jill Biden spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander noted that the language in the invitation was standard and had been used for several administrations, including Trump.
‘*Fyi on all the misleading swirls about the White House and Easter: The standard non-discrimination language of the American Egg Board flyer asking for illustrations has been used by all Democrats and Republican administrators for the past 45 years – for all WH Easter Egg Rolls – including previous administration,” she wrote on X.