The White House is breaking tradition by seeking corporate sponsors for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll, a long-standing event set to take place on the South Lawn. This move is notable as it coincides with increased scrutiny of billionaire tech leaders aligning themselves with the Trump administration. The event promises the classic Egg Roll and Hunt, featuring real eggs from American farmers, along with various entertainment activities facilitated by the White House Historical Association and its partners.
Major companies like YouTube, Amazon, and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, are among the event sponsors. Tech executives such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai have faced backlash for their companies’ contributions to Trump’s inauguration fund and their interactions with Trump and his allies. Notably, Elon Musk of Tesla has gained considerable influence within the White House, raising concerns about potential breaches in government protocol.
The White House’s decision to seek sponsors, with sponsorship fees ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, drew attention from CNN recently. The funds raised will support the White House Historical Association, a nonprofit organization. Despite attempts to reach out for comment, the involved companies did not respond immediately.
The Easter Egg Roll tradition dates back to the time of President Rutherford B. Hayes and has been a consistent feature of Pennsylvania Avenue since 1878, with rare interruptions due to wartime and food shortages. This year’s event will feature eggs donated by American farmers amidst record-high egg prices in the U.S. caused by an avian flu outbreak necessitating the culling of millions of hens.
