The White House Easter Egg Roll, an annual event held on the South Lawn, has drawn corporate sponsors including major tech giants Amazon, Meta, and YouTube. The event, which dates back to the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878, typically features activities such as an egg roll and egg hunt using real eggs donated by American egg farmers. According to the White House, the sponsorship money will go to the White House Historical Association to support events like the Easter Egg Roll and Halloween festivities.
The involvement of these tech companies comes as their executives have faced criticism for their connections to the administration. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai have been among those criticized for their firms’ donations to the inauguration fund and meetings with administration officials. Tesla’s Elon Musk has also been notable for his involvement with the administration, despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
In a statement, YouTube said its participation in the Easter Egg Roll “has become an annual tradition” and that their goal is to provide an opportunity for kids to meet their favorite creators. The White House Historical Association, a nonprofit entity, contracted with a production company named Harbinger to solicit sponsorships for the event, with prices ranging from $75,000 to $200,000.
The Easter Egg Roll takes place amid record-high egg prices in the United States due to an avian flu outbreak that has forced farmers to kill millions of egg-laying hens. The event has been a mainstay on Pennsylvania Avenue, except during times of war and food shortages.
