President Biden and first lady Jill Biden on Monday appeared alongside a masked Easter Bunny to mark the holiday in lieu of the traditional White House Easter Egg Roll, which was canceled for a second consecutive year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The president delivered brief balcony remarks denoting the holiday, which he celebrated at Camp David a day earlier. Biden said he looked forward to the return of the egg roll next year.
“Easter is a day of joy when we celebrate resurrection and renewal,” Biden said. “But this year we know many are still going without the familiar comforts of the season. The virus is not gone, and for the second year in a row, most will be apart from their families, their friends and the full congregation that fills us with so much joy.”
“As we celebrate the renewal of the season, we know that longed-for dawn is almost here,” he continued. “We will rebuild our nation. We will reengage and reimagine what we can be. We’ll remember that with faith, hope and love, anything is possible.”
The White House typically hosts hundreds of people for the Easter egg roll, where children gather on the South Lawn to partake in the annual tradition as the president and first lady look on. But the event was scrapped last year in the early weeks of the pandemic and was called off again this year as the country works to get case numbers under control.
The decor was adapted to the times, as well. The president and first lady stood next to a masked Easter Bunny, who was played this year by Lt. Col. Brandon Westling. Below the balcony were cutouts of bunnies with masks and egg-shaped cutouts.
The president and first lady also sent wooden commemorative eggs to vaccination sites around the country to mark the holiday.