President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
President Donald Trump blows the whistle to start a race during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
President Donald Trump, joined by the Easter Bunny and first lady Melania Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 22, 2019, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet children during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet children during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Guests pick up free eggs at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Guests take photos at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 22, 2019, in Washington. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
Colored Easter Eggs are ready on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 22, 2019, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. (Alex Brandon/AP)
First lady Melania Trump reads “The Wonderful Things You Will Do,” to children on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 22, 2019, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. (Alex Brandon/AP)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump kicked off the annual Easter Egg Roll Monday — the White House’s biggest social event of the year.
“I want to wish everybody a very happy Easter,” Trump said, addressing the crowd from the Truman Balcony, where he was joined by first lady Melania Trump and a bespectacled bunny character.
He also talked about his administration’s investments in the military, saying, “it is being rebuilt to a level we have never seen before.”
Trump later blew a whistle that began an egg roll on the South Lawn — one of many activities organized for the 30,000 adults and children who will stream through the gates all day.
The main event is the traditional rolling of hard-boiled eggs across the lawn, but the first lady has announced two new additions to the lineup of festivities: musical eggs and a game of hopscotch named for her “Be Best” children’s initiative.
There’s also a nook where Mrs. Trump and other officials read storybooks and a station for kids to make greeting cards to send to U.S. troops.
The White House Easter Egg Roll dates to 1878.
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