Eggs will roll.
Animal rights activists are urging officials in both the US and UK to ditch traditional Easter eggs in favor of decorated potatoes at their annual egg-rolling festivities — pitching the swap as a win for both chickens and their constituents’ wallets.
Advocates argue that swapping eggs for potatoes would spare hens from industrial farming while offering a more sustainable — and less breakable — alternative for kids hurtling their holiday “eggs” downhill.
They meanwhile expressed concern on behalf of consumers who earlier this year faced soaring egg prices amid recent avian flu outbreaks.
In a letter to First Lady Melania Trump, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) proposed rebranding the annual White House Easter Egg Roll — which dates back to 1878 — into a “Make America Great Easter Potato Roll,” complete with dyed spuds, sack races and “hot potato” games.
“I’m writing … with a suggestion that we believe aligns with your forward-thinking, trendsetting style,” Ingrid Newkirk wrote.
PETA’s tongue-in-cheek pitch leans heavily on rising egg prices and animal welfare concerns — a message Newkirk doubled down on in an exclusive statement to The Post.
“Egg prices are through the roof, chickens are paying the price, and Americans are shell-shocked,” she said. “A White House Potato Roll would be kinder, cheaper, a boost for potato farmers, and provide a smashing good time for kids — proof that Easter fun doesn’t have to come at a hen’s expense.”
In exchange for the First Lady’s cooperation, Newkirk offered her the gift of a dress made from vintage Idaho potato sacks, inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1951 frock.
Nevertheless, the White House Easter Egg Roll remains on the congressional calendar for Monday, April 6, 2026.
Reps for PETA have made similar appeals across the pond, targeting the UK’s own egg-rolling traditions, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
In a separate letter, Elisa Allen, PETA’s vice president of programs in the UK, claimed potato-rolling would “reduce animal suffering, teach children empathy and kindness, help the planet and support British potato farmers.”
Allen went on to claim that chickens are “inquisitive, intelligent individuals who form complex social bonds.”
“But Easter is far from a time of renewel of joy for them.”
Potatoes, on the other hand, could serve as a practical stand-in that can still be dyed, decorated and rolled without cracking under pressure, according to PETA.
“Potatoes are an icon in their own right,” Newkirk wrote in her White House missive, calling the proposed overhaul a “spudtacular reinterpretation” that could modernize the beloved tradition while keeping the holiday spirit intact.
