Apparently for President Donald Trump, nothing says “Happy Easter” quite like boasting about the money being spent on the military.
Speaking in front of children and their families at the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House on Monday morning, the president greeted those in attendance by touting the economy before deciding that the size of the military was what children wanted to hear about before the event.
“This is a special year. Our country is doing great. You look at the economy, you look at what’s happening. Nothing is ever easy, but we have never had an economy like we have right now. And we’re going to make it bigger, and better, and stronger,” the president said, standing next to Melania Trump and a person dressed in a bunny costume. “Our military is now at a level, will soon be at a level, that it’s never been before. You see what’s happening–and you see what’s happening with funding. The funding of our military was so important, and so many military people are with us today. So just think of $700 billion because that’s all going into our military this year.”
The president ended the rant by wishing everyone a Happy Easter before walking down to participate in the Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition where children participate in events outside of the White House.
Trump’s decision to talk to a bunch of kids about military spending was quickly mocked online.
Trump is telling a bunch of kids at an Easter egg roll… that he's going to make the military stronger
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) April 2, 2018
Trump opens the White House Easter egg roll with a political speech about the great economy & the $700B being spent on the military.
— Pitt Griffin (@pittgriffin) April 2, 2018
The kids were on the edge of their seats. pic.twitter.com/fWEtBCtFt5
tRump can't just talk to children about the Easter egg roll and let it at that. It has to be about the military.
— Laura Lea Watson (@LauraLeaWatson1) April 2, 2018
Trump kicks off the White House Easter Egg roll as the throngs of kids yelled, "Tell us more about the economy and the military!" #Trump #EasterEggRoll
— Steve Becker (@Steveisbookin) April 2, 2018
This isn’t the first time Trump has used an audience of children to talk about politics. Last year, the president was criticized for going off script and blasting “fake news,” Congress, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton during a speech in front of nearly 40,000 people at the Boy Scouts Jamboree in West Virginia.
At least at this year’s Easter Egg Roll, Trump didn’t forget to put his hand on his heart during the National Anthem.