Politics
President Donald Trump waves to guests after delivering remarks from the Truman Balcony with first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump during the 139th Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House April 17, 2017.
On Monday, the White House hosted the 139th annual Easter Egg Roll, which was expected to include some 18,000 (wooden) eggs and at least 21,000 guests on the South Lawn.This year's Easter Egg Roll will be smaller than those of past years - 35,000 people attended the Obama's final event. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and their 11-year-old son, Barron, who lives in New York City with the First Lady, hosted kids, costumed characters at the executive mansion.
The event, which has been described as the "Super Bowl of White House social events," is an early test for Melania Trump, whose office is responsible for organizing the day.
There were signs that planning for it got off to a rocky start when, in February, the wooden egg manufacturer, Wells Wood Turning, tweeted a reminder of the deadline for ordering the commemorative eggs.
"It's the single most high-profile event that takes place at the White House each year, and the White House and the first lady are judged on how well they put it on," Melinda Bates, who organized all eight White House Easter Egg Rolls under President Bill Clinton, told The New York Times the week before the event. "I'm really concerned for the Trump people, because they have failed to fill some really vital posts, and this thing is all hands on deck."
See how the Trump's Egg Roll turned out:
@FLOTUS @realDonaldTrump @POTUS @MELANIATRUMP @IvankaTrump FYI manufacturing deadlines for the Easter eggs are near. Please reach out! pic.twitter.com/D78YqWVPBi
- Wells Wood Turning (@WellsTurning) February 20, 2017