Companies can now sponsor the White House’s Easter Egg Roll
Breaking tradition, the White House is selling corporate sponsorships to the annual Easter Egg Roll
The White House Easter egg roll is back. The longstanding tradition in Washington, D.C., is set to take place Monday.
In 1878, Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order that allowed children to roll eggs down the White House lawn after banning them from using the White House Grounds as a playground two years earlier, according to the National Parks Service.
Families with children under 13 will be drawn from an online lottery to join President Donald Trump, the first lady, White House staff and their families for the 147th edition of the egg roll.
The 2025 egg roll will be the first iteration of the tradition to be open to corporate sponsorships, a decision that has caused Trump critics to suggest it is an ethics violation.
A document about sponsorship opportunities, first reported by CNN and obtained by USA TODAY, says that egg roll sponsors will “provide financial support, activities, and giveaways to enhance the event while gaining valuable brand visibility and national recognition.”
YouTube, Meta and Amazon are among the companies sponsoring the event, CNN reported.
The event, according to a White House news release issued Friday, “will bring history to life for kids and families who sign a mini-Declaration of Independence, dress up as Founding Fathers, and enjoy an activity book.”
Here’s what you need to know about the White House Easter egg roll, including how you can watch it live.
When is the White House Easter egg roll?
The White House egg roll is scheduled for Monday, April 21.
Will the White House Easter egg roll use real eggs?
NBC News reported that the White House Easter egg roll will use real eggs even as bird flu continues to cause supply constraints that have skyrocketed prices.
“They were saying that for Easter ‘please don’t use eggs. Could you use plastic eggs?’ I say we don’t want to do that,” NBC quoted Trump as saying earlier this month.
The egg roll uses about 2,500 dozen eggs donated by farmers, according to the American Egg Board. That adds up to 30,000 eggs.
“The heart of this event is about bringing joy to children and families, and in these difficult times for egg farmers, it’s important to celebrate wherever we can,” Emily Metz, president and CEO of the Egg Board said in a statement. “Eggs are at the center of cherished Easter and Passover traditions and memories, and this year is no different.”
How to watch the White House Easter egg roll
USA TODAY will stream the White House Easter egg roll and you can watch it below.