At the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, emphasizing her background as a teacher, highlighted the educational activities available, such as a reading nook, exploration of space, circuit-making, and more. She aimed to make the event a learning experience and encouraged the attendees to learn something new and have fun.
President Biden thanked the organizers and supporters, including the National Park Service and the American Egg Board. He referenced the event's history, dating back to 1878, and spoke about the themes of Easter: hope, renewal, and the importance of love and grace. He expressed his optimism for America's future and values, emphasizing its capacity for greatness. He concluded by inviting attendees to enjoy the day and introduced the Easter bunnies, inviting them to join the stage.
President Biden issued a proclamation recognizing April 2 as World Autism Acceptance Day 2024, reaffirming America's foundational belief in equality and celebrating the contributions of neurodiverse individuals, emphasizing the rich diversity they bring to the nation. With 5.4 million adults and 1 in 36 children diagnosed with autism in the U.S., the proclamation acknowledges the challenges they face, including in employment, healthcare, and education, and commits to improving access to resources and support. The administration's efforts include funding research for early diagnosis, enhancing educational and healthcare services, promoting inclusivity in early childhood programs, and ensuring equal opportunities in the workforce. The proclamation also highlights the importance of community understanding, the protection of health care benefits, and the global advancement of disability rights. President Biden calls on all Americans to recognize April 2, 2024, as World Autism Acceptance Day, urging a commitment to learning about autism and fostering inclusive communities.
During a whimsical White House press briefing featuring a costumed Easter Bunny, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre navigated a variety of topics from the light-hearted Easter celebrations to more serious subjects like the revocation of the Hatch Act, educational initiatives by the First Lady and President Biden's upcoming visit to the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Ms. Jean-Pierre humorously engaged with the Easter Bunny's silent antics before addressing the administration's efforts in Baltimore, highlighting a whole-of-government approach to the disaster response. She tackled questions on various issues, including criticisms of the Transgender Day of Visibility coinciding with Easter and international discussions on Rafah with Israeli officials.
Ms. Jean-Pierre emphasized the administration's dedication to supporting the people of Baltimore through federal funding and coordination with local authorities. She underlined the importance of bipartisan support for Ukraine aid and addressed misinformation regarding AHIs (anomalous health incidents) potentially linked to foreign adversaries. The briefing covered a broad spectrum of topics, underscoring the administration's commitment to education, infrastructure, and national security while maintaining a light-hearted Easter spirit.
The U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG) convened via secure video conference, co-chaired by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. The meeting, which included experts and senior officials from both nations, lasted two hours and focused on Rafah. The U.S. opposes the invasion, citing concerns over civilian casualties, with over 32,000 Palestinians reportedly killed in Gaza. President Biden and White House officials have expressed the need for Israel to explore other options before launching a large-scale operation in Rafah, a critical refuge for over 1 million displaced Palestinians. The U.S. urges Israel to seek alternatives to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which Israel agreed to consider, promising to address in follow-up expert discussions under the SCG's oversight. These discussions are slated to continue, including an in-person SCG meeting proposed for the following week.
Additional source: South China Morning Post
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with his Philippine counterpart, Eduardo M. Año, discussing arrangements for Philippine President Marcos's upcoming visit to the White House and the first Japan-Philippines-U.S. trilateral summit. Sullivan reaffirmed U.S. support for the Philippines following aggressive actions by the Chinese Coast Guard against a Philippine mission at Second Thomas Shoal on March 23, emphasizing the strong U.S. commitment under the Mutual Defense Treaty to defend the Philippines, including in the South China Sea.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and First Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll
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