Chicago – April 19, 2025
For the first time, the White House is seeking corporate sponsorship for its annual Easter Egg Roll, set to take place Monday on the South Lawn. The move comes amid increasing criticism of tech billionaires for their close ties to the Trump administration.
According to a statement from the White House, the event will feature the traditional Egg Roll and Egg Hunt, using real small and medium eggs donated by U.S. egg farmers. Attendees can also look forward to various fun activities made possible through support from the White House Historical Association and its partners. Sponsors listed include major companies such as YouTube, Amazon, and Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Top tech executives like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have been under fire for their companies’ financial contributions to Trump’s inauguration and for meeting with him and his allies.
Among the most prominent tech leaders linked to Trump is Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose growing influence within the administration has sparked concerns about a possible breach of traditional government norms and ethics.
The Easter Egg Roll, a tradition dating back to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878, has been held regularly except during wartime or food shortages. This year’s event comes as the U.S. experiences record-high egg prices due to an avian flu outbreak, which has led to the culling of millions of egg-laying hens.
