This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll is drawing attention for its high-profile sponsorships from major tech companies like YouTube, Meta, and Amazon. These collaborations reflect the close ties between tech industry leaders and the Trump administration.
An outside production company, Harbinger, managed sponsorship efforts for the event. Corporations were offered branding opportunities in exchange for contributions ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, according to a nine-page proposal distributed to potential sponsors.
A press release from the Office of the First Lady confirmed several big-name tech firms and industry associations have come onboard. The annual event, which hasn’t relied on taxpayer funding for years, channels all raised funds to the White House Historical Association.
This year’s Egg Roll promises a variety of family-friendly activities, made possible through these partnerships. Amazon is sponsoring a “Reading Nook,” YouTube is behind the “Bunny Hop Stage,” Meta is providing an “AI-Powered Experience and Photo Opportunity,” and the New York Stock Exchange is hosting a “Ringing of the Bell Photo Opportunity.”
These sponsorships come as tech companies, many of which supported Trump’s inaugural committee, face economic headwinds due to global market volatility linked to his trade policies and tariffs.
“YouTube’s participation in the White House Easter Egg Roll has become an annual tradition, and we follow the administration’s protocols,” a company spokesperson said. “We’re excited to help create experiences where kids can interact with their favorite creators again this year.” Amazon declined to comment.
Longtime supporter, the American Egg Board, is once again providing 30,000 hard-boiled eggs and hosting a “Garden Café for Tasty Treats.” Other contributors include The Toy Association, the International Fresh Produce Association, and the National Confectioners Association. Signature Brands, which owns Betty Crocker, is offering a cookie decorating station, and GALA is running a digital egg hunt.
The push for sponsorship has raised eyebrows, as it breaks with tradition by introducing significant corporate branding to the White House grounds. Historically, regulations have prohibited public office from being used for private commercial benefit.
According to the Harbinger proposal, sponsors were offered options like naming rights to areas or features, logo placement on signage, branded food or souvenirs, and shoutouts in official communications and social media.
Richard Painter, former ethics counsel under President George W. Bush, criticized the move after reviewing the proposal. “This would never have been approved when I was in the Counsel’s Office,” he said. “We’re not supposed to turn the White House into a billboard in exchange for corporate money.”