Companies vying for Trump's attention are sponsoring the Easter Egg Roll
The White House's annual Easter Egg Roll will have major corporations sponsoring activities this year, which ethics experts say would not have passed muster under previous administrations.
The White House on Friday announced details for the annual event, which has taken place in some form for more than 100 years. Among the companies sponsoring stations are Amazon, Meta and YouTube — all tech companies whose leaders have sought a closer relationship with President Donald Trump in his second term.
'In addition to the classic Egg Roll and Egg Hunt — both featuring real, small- and medium-sized eggs donated by American egg farmers — guests will enjoy a wide array of entertaining activities thanks to the White House Historical Association and its partnerships,' the first lady's office said in a statement.
It comes as tech giants have looked to make inroads with the Trump administration, with industry titans attending the president's inauguration. Trump and his administration have also sought to boost companies that publicly align with him, including when the president showcased Tesla cars — and bought one — alongside his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who also serves as CEO of the EV company.
Ethics experts said the arrangement for Monday's egg roll was highly unusual, and a break from tradition about not corporatizing the White House and its grounds.
'From the president and his family on down, the White House, and indeed the federal government, there are too many conflicts and other complex entanglements with the companies reportedly solicited,' said Norm Eisen, a longtime Trump critic who served as President Barack Obama's special counsel for ethics and government reform and currently chairs the State Democracy Defenders Fund. 'That opens up at least the appearance of influence peddling.'
The White House and the White House Historical Association — a private nonprofit that has worked with administrations of both parties for decades — did not respond to requests for comment.
'No way,' said Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush and another regular detractor of Trump, on whether this would have happened under any other presidency. 'You can't have corporate logos associated with the White House.'
A spokesperson for Google, YouTube's parent company, emphasized in a statement that the video platform has partnered with the White House in years past and it does so 'in line with the administration's process.'
'YouTube's participation in the White House Easter Egg Roll has become an annual tradition,' the company said, adding that 'our goal is to provide an opportunity for kids to meet their favorite creators, and we look forward to having a presence once again this year.'
It isn't clear how, exactly, the sponsorships will be displayed. But Amazon is backing activities across the South Lawn on Monday, sponsoring the 'Reading Nook' and 'Family Photo Opportunity.' Meta will sponsor the 'AI-Powered Experience and Photo Opportunity.' And YouTube will host the 'Bunny Hop Stage.'
'During my years as ethics czar in the White House, when my duties included overseeing these kinds of compliance issues … I never would have allowed this,' Eisen said.
He added that White House senior staff involved in the planning 'are subject to the ethics laws implicated, such as those prohibiting the appearance or the reality of a conflict.'
GALA, a blockchain company sponsoring a 'Digital White House Egg Hunt Game,' has already been promoting its involvement in the event. It is highlighting the game on its website next to a picture of the Easter Egg Roll's logo, saying the game is 'bringing an added layer of fun to one of the most iconic events of the season.'
The company said in its announcement that it is "honored to partner" with the event.
Industry trade groups — including egg farmers and candy makers — are also listed as event partners, and some have supported the event for decades.
'America's egg farmers are immensely proud to be part of this treasured tradition every year. As a legacy partner of the White House Easter Egg Roll, we are honored that real eggs are a key element in this iconic national celebration,' Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, said in an announcement on the organization's website.
Meta declined to comment and Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.
It isn't the first time corporate backing has made its way to White House events. In 2016, Obama hosted a 'South by South Lawn' event at the White House, which his administration said 'was made possible thanks to support' from companies including Hyatt, Starbucks and Target.
But some of the tech companies sponsoring stations this year are facing intense scrutiny. Meta is in the midst of a major antitrust trial — and some in Washington fear Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's relationship with Trump could affect the case. A federal judge also recently ruled in a case originally brought by the Biden administration and 17 state attorneys general that parts of Google's ad business was an illegal monopoly, a decision the company pledged to appeal.
CNN previously reported that the White House had hired event production company Harbinger to solicit outside sponsors for this year's Egg Roll, with sponsorship offers ranging from $75,000 to $200,000. (POLITICO has not independently confirmed the sponsorship prices.) The money raised from the sponsors, CNN reported, will go toward the White House Historical Association.
Painter said he was approached several times under the Bush administration about auctioning off White House tours or lunch at the White House, but had to bring down the hammer. 'You can't use the White House for any kind of fundraising,' Painter said. 'Corporate logos should be nowhere to be seen [at the White House].'
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