The White House • April 22, 2019

First Lady Melania Trump hosts the 141st White House Easter Egg Roll Today, First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald J. Trump celebrated a time-honored Easter tradition by hosting the 141st White House Easter Egg Roll.    Watch: First Lady reads to children at Easter Egg Roll   This year’s festivities brought some new activities courtesy of Mrs. Trump, such as “musical eggs” and Be Best hopscotch—a nod to the First Lady’s signature Be Best initiative. Another new addition allowed children to spread some Easter joy by mailing postcards to friends, family, or military service members directly through a U.S. Postal Service mailbox located on the grounds. The White House Easter Egg Roll officially dates back to 1878 and the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, but first-hand accounts suggest that informal festivities began as early as the Abraham Lincoln Administration. Egg roll attendance grew so popular that the number of guests had to be limited, and in 1939, the Secret Service had to go so far as shutting down a “racket” of children trying to sneak adults into the event for a fee. “I want to wish everybody a very Happy Easter,” President Trump told families gathered on the South Lawn this morning. In all, more than 30,000 people were able to experience the rich tradition and fun of today’s historic event. See President Trump and the First Lady welcome today’s guests. Watch: Press Secretary Sarah Sanders reads to children

President Trump: Bringing Iran’s oil exports to zero Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, bankrolling terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Taliban. The regime has long used oil revenues to support destabilizing activities and fund terrorist proxies all over the world. President Trump took further action today to bring those crucial oil exports to zero, denying the regime in Tehran its principal source of revenue. The Trump Administration has decided not to reissue Significant Reduction Exceptions—in effect, temporary sanction waivers—when they expire in early May, putting even more pressure on Iran. The United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—three of the world’s great energy producers—are working together to ensure global oil markets remain well-supplied as Iranian oil is removed from the picture. Energy forecasters expect global oil supply will keep pace with demand in 2019. President Trump is working to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero. The big picture: Why the Iran nuclear deal was defective at its core

A message from President Trump on Sri Lanka Over Easter weekend, a horrific terrorist attack took place in Sri Lanka, claiming the lives of hundreds of innocent people and leaving many more injured. “Spoke to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka this morning to inform him that the United States stands by him and his country in the fight against terrorism,” President Trump tweeted yesterday. “Also expressed condolences on behalf of myself and the People of the United States!” Statement from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Sri Lanka attacks.

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in egg roll races on the South Lawn during the 141st White House Easter Egg Roll | April 22, 2019