By Molly Goddard
1:34am PDT, Mar 26, 2025
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There will be major changes to the White House's Easter Egg Roll this year.
Harbinger — the outside production company hired by President
Donald Trump and his administration to put on the April event — announced they were looking for corporate sponsors to help fund the annual holiday gathering. However, the move isn't going over well with people in Washington, D.C.
Join us to read about why politicians are alarmed by the money-making decision…
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According to a document obtained by
CNN, sponsorships for companies participating in the 2025 Easter Egg Roll go from $75,000 to $200,000. The deal includes a promise of logo and branding opportunities during the festivities.
The American Egg Board and other private donors have funded the event without taxpayer dollars since 1878. Donald Trump's team and the Harbinger will give the money to the
White House Historical Association.
The corporate takeover has caused many concerns over anyone possibly using public office to gain private money.
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"This is an enterprise. This is not your grandmother's Easter Egg Roll, where people line up outside the gate and roll an egg, get a little gift bag and walk out," an official from Harbinger explained about the upcoming event.
The company revealed that any potential sponsors would "provide financial support, activities and giveaways to enhance the event while gaining valuable brand visibility and
national recognition."
Other benefits will include "naming rights for key areas or elements," "sponsor logos featured on event signage" and "custom-branded baskets, snacks/beverages, or souvenirs."
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Sponsors will also get the chance to meet First Lady
Melania Trump at an "invite-only brunch hosted inside the White House by FLOTUS."
Despite ongoing criticism, the White House Historical Association — who will receive the money made — reassured the public the funds would be handled in the best interest of American citizens.
"For many presidencies, the White House Historical Association has collaborated with White House staff to facilitate a public gathering such as the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. And as we do with other gifts to the White House collection, we receive contributions and in-kind gifts that are used on the grounds that day," the Association President
Stewart McLaurin explained to CNN.
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Richard Painter — a former staffer for the White House Counsel's Office under past President
George W. Bush — was stunned by the bold entrepreneurial move.
"That would have been vetoed in about 30 seconds in my day," he claimed to the outlet. "We're not running this like a football stadium where you get all logos all over the place for kicking in money."
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Chief Counsel and Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington Donald Sherman was also shocked by the offer for people to buy into the event.
"I understand that there are corporate sponsors for the Easter Egg Roll," he said. "What I have not seen before is sort of the outright solicitation and the use of the imprimatur of the White House to give corporate sponsorship."
