Melania Trump Welcomes Families to Annual White House Easter Egg Roll
The first lady reads a bunny tale with a lesson in kindness.
Melania Trump, seated on a bench with a children’s book in hand on the South Lawn of the White House on Easter Monday, welcomed children and their families to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
The first lady, dressed in an off-white trench coat, read Bunny with a Big Heart, a story she told the crowd that “she really liked.” And, she noted at the end she wanted the children to tell her what they learned. The lesson, they soon found out, would underscore the first lady’s “Be Best” initiative with a message of kindness.
The 147th Easter Egg Roll drew an expected 42,000 children and families from across the country under an overcast sky and a light sprinkle of rain. At the start of the event, Mrs. Trump standing next to her husband, President Donald Trump, addressed the crowd as festivities were underway and just hours after the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had died. The Pope had been ill with bilateral pneumonia and had just met with Vice President JD Vance on Sunday. The White House lowered the American flag to half-staff in tribute to the Pope and later, the president announced on social media that he and the first lady would attend his funeral.
Among the activities on the South Lawn was a mini Declaration of Independence attendees could sign, an area where guests could dress up as a founding father and an activity book, George the Star: An America250 Story—all in commemoration of the upcoming 250th celebration of America’s founding on July 4, 2026.
The Trumps kicked off the Easter Egg Roll by blowing whistles. Some 2,500 dozen Easter eggs were donated by American egg farmers. The Easter Egg Roll tradition was established in 1878 by President Rutherford B. Hayes, who decided to open the South Lawn to egg rollers, as it had previously been reserved for the First Family’s private Easter activities. In 1974, the Nixons hosted egg roll races, an event which has become an Easter Monday favorite, according to the White House Historical Association.
Activities supporting Mrs. Trump’s “Be Best” initiative included a “Be Best” Military Card station for children to send messages of gratitude to American service members; a “Be Best” hopscotch; and a variety of activities from various sponsors at the event. Proceeds from the sponsors benefit the White House Historical Association, the main organizer of the event.
Also featured in the Reading Nook was co-author and former chief of staff for former First Lady Laura Bush Anita McBride and her daughter and co-author Gigi McBride, who read from their new children’s book First Ladies Make History. The United States Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps also performed along with live performances from all the United States military bands.
Calendar
April 22, 2025
Unsung and Unstoppable: The First Ladies and Facts You Never Knew
Join the National First Ladies Library & Museum for a virtual program in honor of National First Ladies Day (April 26) on April 22 from 7-8 p.m. EST. The discussion is a collaboration between the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and the National First Ladies Library and Museum (NFLLM) led by Diana Carlin, Anita McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith—founding members of FLARE. Patty Dowd Schmitz, president and CEO of NFLLM, will be moderating the panel.
This program will uncover surprising stories and little-known facts about some of our nation’s most impactful First Ladies, including Louisa Adams, Mary Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Laura Bush.
No registration is required. Visit their YouTube page to join.
April 25, 2025
Cooking with the First Ladies Man
The 20th Annual Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri, will feature Andrew Och. On April 25 at 4:35 p.m. at the Marshfield Assembly of God Fellowship Hall (1538 W. Washington), Och will lead a cooking demonstration with Allethea Wall (sister of First Lady Rosalynn Carter) and Julie Wall-Smith (niece of Carter). They will share stories and favorite recipes from the former first lady and Plains, Ga. Tickets are $20 per person and will benefit the Rosalynn Smith Carter Childhood Garden. They can be purchased online or by calling 417-860-4996.
April 25, 2025
Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival Lunch: ‘Women of the Civil War Era’
You know their famous husbands, but First Ladies Mary Todd Lincoln, Lucy Webb Hayes and Ida Saxton McKinley participated in history that shaped our nation. In a luncheon benefitting the Wilson’s Creek Battlefield Foundation, hear from a fascinating panel who bring unique perspectives about women who lived during the Civil War Era. Panelists will include Margaret Hayes Clark, great-granddaughter of President Rutherford B. Hayes, Massee McKinley great, great-nephew of President William McKinley and Christy Lindberg, former National Park Service ranger for the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
The luncheon will be held on Friday, April 25 at 12:45 p.m. at the Marshfield Assembly of God. William Piston, Missouri State University Professor Emeritus, Civil War historian and president of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Foundation, will moderate the panel discussion. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased by calling 417-861-9905 or on the Wilson’s Creek website.
April 26, 2025
4th Annual Rosalynn Carter Luncheon
In honor of National First Ladies Day in Marshfield, Missouri, join the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival for its 4th annual Rosalynn Carter Luncheon. Rev. Tony Lowden, the personal pastor to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, will be interviewed by presidential historian Larry Cook. Benefits will support the Friends of Jimmy Carter organization of Plains, Georgia. The luncheon also celebrates the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival’s sister festival relationship with the Peanut Festival in Plains.
The luncheon is happening at the Marshfield Assembly of God Fellowship Hall from 12-1 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online or by calling 417-860-4996. The fried chicken luncheon will reflect a Southern menu.
April 28, 2025
White House History Live: The First Ladies
The White House Historical Association announced an upcoming virtual presentation on the first ladies and their countless contributions to U.S. history. Join Lisa Burns and Teri Finneman, editors of The Cambridge Companion to U.S. First Ladies, as they discuss the political, social, and cultural influence of first ladies from Martha to Melania. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. on April 28 and can be viewed on Facebook or YouTube. Read more
May 7, 2025
Sixth & I Politics and Prose: Isabel Allende In Conversation With Jill Biden
Bestselling author and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Isabel Allende will speak with former First Lady Jill Biden on May 7 to speak about Allende’s new book, “My Name Is Emilia del Valle.” The book is a historical novel about a young writer who journeys to South America to uncover the truth about her father and herself. The event, held at 7 p.m., will take place both in-person at Sixth & I (600 I St NW Washington, DC) and online. Tickets start at $12 each
May 8, 2025
The White House Food History Symposium
The White House Historical Association in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is presenting the White House Food History Symposium on May 8. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Historic Decatur House, the event will explore the evolution of food history, presidential and White House foodways, how White House staff and chefs have shaped presidential taste, and the role of food and wine in social diplomacy. Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and reception. Guests will also receive a copy of the White House Historical Association’s latest publication, Cooking to the President’s Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History.
May 9, 2025
Legacy Lecture: What Six Months Back Reveal About Melania Trump
Join Jennifer Taylor, editor and founder of East Wing Magazine, for a virtual lecture with the National First Ladies Library & Museum exploring the early days of Melania Trump’s return to the White House during the second Trump administration. On May 9 at noon EST, this in-depth discussion will explore how Trump has navigated her role as first lady this time around, the initiatives she has revived or introduced, changes in East Wing traditions and norms and the potential influence she may wield over the next four years. Tickets are $9.
May 14, 2025
Talk with a Curator
The National First Ladies Library & Museum’s Michelle Gullion, Senior Director of Curatorial Services, is hosting a virtual behind-the-scenes adventure into first ladies history. Join Gullion at 7 p.m. on May 14 for a lively and exclusive look behind the scenes of the National First Ladies Library & Museum. She will cover fascinating artifacts from the first ladies collection, the stories behind the historical treasures and how the team preserves and shares these unique pieces of history. Tickets are $9.
May 15, 2025
Third Thursday Wine & Cheese: Nancy Reagan's Designer Secrets Unveiled!
The National First Ladies Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio is hosting an evening dedicated to First Lady Nancy Reagan’s style and sophistication. On May 15 at 6:30 p.m. EST, they’ll showcase six of Reagan's rarely displayed and absolutely breathtaking designer handbags from Yves Saint Laurent to Valentino. The iconic accessories tell the story of how one first lady made elegance her signature and a powerful political statement. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.