- Meta will be one of the co-sponsors of the 2025 White House Easter Egg roll.
- Corporate sponsorships are expected to be a larger part of the 2025 event than past editions.
- Meta is facing an ongoing antitrust trial just blocks away from the White House.
First Lady Melania Trump on Friday announced that Meta will co-sponsor the 2025 White House east egg roll blocks away from a courthouse where the company’s future continues to hang in the balance.
According to Trump’s office, Meta will sponsor an “AI-Powered Experience and Photo Opportunity.” Other tech companies, including YouTube, which is owned by Google, and Amazon, will also sponsor parts of the event that dates back to the 1870s.
A spokesperson for the first lady deferred comment to the White House Historical Association. CNN reported in March that all funds raised by sponsorships would go to the private nonprofit that helps preserve and educate the public on the White House’s history.
The White House previously expressed interest in having more explicit corporate sponsorships, leading to the possible conflicts of interest that Meta’s presence will underline.
The Federal Trade Commission is currently prosecuting an antitrust case that alleges that Meta “cemented” its monopoly after acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014. If the FTC wins, they could ask that the social media giant be forced to sell two of its biggest acquisitions.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified over 10 hours in DC Circuit court this week. He has repeatedly tried to curry favor with Trump and his orbit. The New York Times reported that Zuckerberg has visited Mar-a-Lago and the White House multiple times. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Meta CEO held multiple meetings with top White House officials, including chief of staff Susie Wiles.
Meta donated $1 million ahead of Trump’s inauguration amid a rush by companies to get closer to the incoming administration. Separately, Meta settled a lawsuit with Trump for $25 million.
In a statement before the antitrust trial began, Meta expressed confidence that it would prevail. Legal experts have said the FTC has a high bar to reach, especially since federal officials previously OKed Meta’s acquisitions when they occurred.
Meta and the White House Historical Association did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
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