Trump’s White House Is Soliciting Corporate Sponsors for Annual Easter Egg Roll

The White House's annual Easter Egg Roll is seeking corporate sponsors.

According to documents obtained by CNN and The New York Times, potential corporate sponsors were contacted about contributions, ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, in exchange for promotional opportunities at the annual Easter celebration at the White House, which is set to take place on April 21. The funds raised by Harbinger will be allocated to the private nonprofit White House Historical Association.

This move raises significant ethical concerns about wielding a public elected position for private gain. The proposed shift, facilitated through event production company Harbinger, entices sponsors to "be a part of history" and keep the financial responsibility of the event off citizens' shoulders. The nine-page pitch document – which notably included a "Reaganomics" pun – suggested the possibility of branding rights, logo placement and a private White House tour.

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Before the second Trump administration, the American Egg Board supplied the eggs for the occasion and acted as the primary source for the event's funding. The event has been privately funded since its inception in 1878 under Former President Rutherford B. Hayes, though the recent news marks a stark shift towards the interest of "valuable brand visibility and national recognition."

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"By partnering with this historic tradition, sponsors can engage with diverse audience, showcase their commitment to community and education and align with a beloved American event," the document noted.

However, a former official who helped plan the event told CNN that it is quite common for facilitators like Harbinger to be behind such a grand event as the Easter Egg Roll — the occasions grow increasingly elaborate each year, which tends to demand professional efforts.

The proposal for sponsors at the Easter Egg Roll is not the first time the Trump administration has blurred the line between government and private business since taking office, with the president notably hosting a makeshift Tesla showroom in front of the White House in an effort to promote Elon Musk's vehicles amid the company's sinking stock prices.

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