The Easter Egg Roll is one of the oldest White House traditions. It dates to 1878 and the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, who opened the lawn to children after Congress banned them from rolling eggs on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

The president and first lady were scheduled to address the crowd from a White House balcony before they join the festivities.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed thousands of people to the White House on Monday for the annual Easter Egg hunt on the South Lawn. Prior to joining in the festivities, the president and his wife addressed the assembled crowd on the same day Pope Francis died,