Eye-rolls & cheers as MASKED bunnies descend on White House to join Biden’s Easter address & greet reporters
The Easter Bunny has made two appearances at the White House as the Biden administration celebrated Easter without a traditional egg roll, sending instead the giant mascot to coddle its pet media.
Having cancelled the customary egg roll, the White House apparently sought to liven up the otherwise toned-down celebration on Monday with the visits from not one, but two Easter bunnies – both masked up, despite being clad in head-to-toe full body costumes.
One of the bunnies was played by the president’s military aide, Air Force Lieutenant-Colonel Brandon Westling. He joined the Bidens on the White House balcony as the president said he hopes to bring the egg roll back next year.
Our Easter celebrations looked different this year, like they did for so many others across the country. But we look forward to next year when the White House will ring with the joy of the season — and God willing, there’ll be an Easter Egg Roll once again. pic.twitter.com/WscouTQZwk
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 5, 2021
Another giant mascot – played by Megan Hays, White House deputy communications director for strategic planning – sauntered into the White House press room in the midst of some persistent questioning by a reporter about voting rights.
Is this what they mean when they say “other duties as assigned”?! So great to stop by @PressSec’s briefing today. Happy Easter! pic.twitter.com/NTctbV4Jaq
— Meghan Hays (@MegHays46) April 5, 2021
The bunny’s intervention came while Press Secretary Jen Psaki was apologizing sheepishly for how the president’s Easter celebrations were “not quite the same” this year, promising to “do a big one next year” while suggesting that those present should be content with the furry creature and “some special commemorative Easter eggs for you all from the first couple.”
The Easter Bunny joins the White House press briefing pic.twitter.com/9oL5U42IEA
— The Hill (@thehill) April 5, 2021
A reporter asked if “the bunny would be taking questions,” but the furry figure did not. Hays’ bunny didn’t even stick around to hand out the presents, outsourcing the task to another White House staffer in the room.
While some reporters were thrilled by the spectacle, fawning over the giant mascot, others were not bemused.
🐰 The Easter Bunny stopped by the White House press briefing room, said hi to all journalists and gave a big hug to @PressSec. Thanks to @ADCPerez46, we have visual proof of the visit. Awoooof! pic.twitter.com/lSjJV9qXt2
— The Oval Pawffice® 🇺🇸 Fans (@TheOvalPawffice) April 5, 2021
Some suggested the Easter bunny was brought in in a deliberate maneuver so that Psaki can dodge questions about the Georgia election integrity law.
Kind of amazing that the White House press team chose the middle of @kaitlancollins' important question about Biden lying about the Georgia election law to... bring in the Easter bunny and interrupt the briefing. https://t.co/D5FRZH55Yb
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 5, 2021
Others took aim at the bunnies’ attire, with conservative political commentator Chance Coleman calling it “the dumbest display of virtue signalling I have ever seen.”
This is idiotic. pic.twitter.com/qM3PJnxJET
— James (@JamesHa77433215) April 5, 2021
“I want to know why the Biden [administration] felt the need to sew a mask onto an Easter Bunny Costume? Children do not watch Political Television, the main viewers are adults,” another dumbfounded critic chimed in.
That’s exactly how the White House sees the media, countered Tom Elliott, editor of the conservative-leaning Grabien.
The White House treats reporters like children because how else would they treat them? https://t.co/w8YAfPgqr6
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) April 5, 2021
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