Thunder and lightning delayed the start of the annual White House Easter egg rolls on Monday, but the event eventually rolled on under gray skies with a large crowd

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including many young people wearing ponchos or colorful jackets against the occasional rain.

More than 40,000 people were expected (10,000 more than last year), with children trying to coax colorfully painted hard-boiled eggs across the lawn to the finish line, among other egg activities. This year’s theme was EGG-ucation and was led by Jill Biden, an educator for over 30 years.

Easter reminds us of the power of hope and renewal, and of sacrifice and resurrection, President Biden told attendees, speaking from the White House balcony, where he was flanked by two large Easter bunnies, one of whom wore sunglasses in the shape of his trademark Ray-Bans. But above all, love and mercy for each other.”

Biden said it is a time to cherish the blessings and opportunities we have as Americans.”

The Easter tradition continues at the White House

That’s what I see in our country. We were a great country because we had good people, he said. ‘Our values ​​are solid.

The president, accompanied by the first lady, then went to the lawn and bent down to help some young people with their eggs. He blew a whistle to officially start one of the White House’s oldest traditions

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first hero in 1878.

Participants included thousands of military and veteran families, their caregivers and survivors. Members of the general public claimed tickets through an online lottery. All were admitted to nine waves until evening.

A large schoolhouse built on the South Lawn provided activities for children in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, including circuit making

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breakers, simulate a fossil dig and learn about next week’s solar eclipse. Youth also wrote notes to U.S. troops and first responders from Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization.

The American Egg Board donated 64,000 eggs to the White House for the event, 40,000 for egg rolling and 24,00 for egg rolling.

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for decoration and other uses.

Michelle and Barack Obama get kids to exercise during Easter egg rolls

I am a teacher

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so I love every moment when we can turn the White House into a classroom, the first lady said, noting that the South Lawn had been turned into a “learning playground and school community.”

After blowing a whistle to help with some egg roll games, Jill Biden went to the garden outside the East Wing and read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? to a group.

The first couple also gave a brief interview to NBC’s Today on Monday, saying that Easter Sunday for them consisted of putting dollar bills in plastic

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aster eggs and went hunting with their grandchildren.

We’re still missing one. One of the eggs is “still missing”,

the first lady joked.

The Democratic president was criticized by top conservatives and the former president’s campaign

Donald

Trump, a Republican who is running to win back the White House, by declaring March 31, the same day as Easter, as Transgender Day of Visibility.

Asked about the criticism as he left the lawn, Biden said his critics were “completely uninformed” and that he had not ensured that Easter and transgender recognition would fall on the same day.

When it comes to Easter eggs and the White House, she’s on a roll

Karine Jean-Pierre, the president’s main spokesperson, was more direct, labeling her words as cruel, hateful and unfair, which was urged to divide us.

During her daily press conference, Jean-Pierre said that “people who understand the calendar and how it works know that the date for Easter changes every year and that this year coincides with Transgender Day of Visibility.

In addition, Biden was asked in the NBC News interview about his latest campaign, in which he is seeking a second term. He said he is optimistic and thinks people are so fed up with the negativity that they will hear from the other side that he will be re-elected.

“I think people are going to surprise people again,” Biden said.

Easter at the White House

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one of the oldest traditions,

dates back to the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, who opened the White House lawn to children after they were kicked off the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

Darlene Superville and Will Weissert write for the Associated Press.