WASHINGTON — First lady Melania Trump on Monday said that her message to the children of Iran was that the US-Israeli war was for their benefit, as she and President Trump hosted kids for the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Melania Trump offered the pro-war explanation on the sidelines of the annual event on the South Lawn when a reporter asked her for a “message to children who find themselves in war zones”
“All of this is happening for their future so they will be safe in years to come,” she said.
President Trump, standing nearby, added: “That’s who we’re fighting for. We’re fighting for children that are now in a war zone. We’re keeping them as safe as we can possibly keep them,”
“We’re fighting for their parents, their grandparents. We’re fighting for them. We’re fighting for their future,” the president went on.
“The time the Iranian people are the most unhappy — when you hear bombs all over — is when those bombs stop,” Trump contended, claiming that Iranian citizens say, “we want to have them back.”
The first couple spent the morning partaking in traditional activities, including blowing the whistle to start the egg roll itself, in which young children whack an egg around the lawn in a manner akin to field hockey.
President Trump at one point leaned down to show a child how to roll the egg with his wooden spoon.
Later, while seated around a table supervising children coloring pictures for members of the military, the president mocked his predecessor Joe Biden’s use of the autopen.
“Biden was unable to sign his name, so they followed him around with this big machine,” he told the children.
The couple then split up and Melania Trump joined the “Be Best” Ring Toss, where she passed out large red rings for the kids to throw on hooks. She also posed for photos, including a selfie with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and his two daughters.
Lawler, wearing a black fleece embroidered with the state of New York, told The Post the first lady complimented his daughters’ matching pink flowered dresses.
“They love Melania,” he said.
The first lady wrapped up her time on the South Lawn by reading “The Runaway Bunny” to a group of children at the Reading Nook in the Rose Garden.
She described it as her favorite book and called it a “beautiful story.” She added she was sure all the mothers could relate to how much the mother bunny loved her baby bunny.
More than 30,000 guests are expected to tramble the South Lawn for the festivities, which dates to 1878.
“Today is a very special day. It’s a day where we celebrate Jesus, it’s a day where we celebrate religion,” President Trump told guests as he kicked off the celebration.
Most of the president’s remarks, however, focused on the Iran conflict — including the daring rescue of two fighter jet pilots shot down Friday.
He also acknowledged the “very significant step” of Iran on Monday offering a 10-point proposal for peace — ahead of the president’s threat to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges Tuesday if there’s no deal.
On his way back to the Oval Office, he stopped outside to wave to the crowd, telling them they were listening to his personal playlist on the sound system.
“Happy Easter,” he said as he headed inside.
