PETA promotes potato-headed Easter, calls for spuds to replace eggs at annual White House Egg Roll

PETA wants to mash up the Easter celebration at the White House.

The animal-rights crusaders sent a letter Tuesday to President Trump and first lady Melania Trump suggesting that, since eggs are so scarce at the moment, they switch out the traditional Easter egg roll for a “spudtacular tradition: the Make America Great Easter Potato Roll.”

“Swapping tired old Easter eggs for America’s favorite vegetable would sprout smiles across the country, save money, and give chickens a break,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a pun-laden press release. “It’s an apeeling idea for POTUS and FLOTUS to initiate a new White House tradition with a budget-friendly potato roll, sack races for the kids, and maybe even a potato painting contest.”

The request appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

The White House announced it planned to host its annual Easter Egg Roll on April 21, the traditional Easter Monday date for the event, even as the price of eggs continues to soar from the bird flu fallout.

Democrats have criticized the move, saying Mr. Trump is ordering 30,000 eggs for his Easter egg roll when “grocery stores are literally rationing eggs right now.”

The Easter Egg Roll is a tradition that dates to 1878, when President Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order allowing children to come to the White House to roll their Easter eggs.

PETA, which offers free vegan starter kits, said swapping the eggs for spuds is a win-win solution for the nation.

“With eggs scarce as hen’s teeth and egg prices at an all-time high (and projected to rise 41% more this year), this would be a terrific way to put America’s potato farmers first and set a winning example for citizens looking for an affordable, protein-rich option,” Ms. Newkirk said in the letter.

“Easter has to do with Christian values, not chicken factories,” they said. “In starch contrast, a potato roll would absolutely be a reason to rejoice.”

PETA sent a similar letter to the Biden administration last year, which was also ignored.