Former President Joe Biden and his administration found themselves embroiled in a series of gaffes and controversies around the Easter holiday, including that time the Easter bunny abruptly whisked the 46th president away from a gaggle of reporters in 2022. 

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump joined families and children on the White House’s South Lawn on Monday morning for the 147th annual event, which dates back to Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency in 1878. 

As the Easter Egg Roll tradition continues this year, Fox News Digital looked back on the handful of Easter controversies involving Biden and his administration throughout his term in office. 

Easter bunny whisks Biden away at Egg Roll 

During the 2022 Easter Egg Roll, a person dressed in a bunny suit was seen approaching Biden as he spoke candidly to members of the media about Afghanistan and Pakistan. The bunny stepped in front of Biden while he was speaking to the media and waved their hands with great animation before directing Biden away from the reporters. 

«Pakistan should not, and Afghanistan should be…» Biden was heard saying before the bunny approaches. 

«Oh, the Easter bunny!» someone can be heard saying off-camera, as Biden appeared visibly caught off guard by the interruption. 

‘EASTER BUNNY’ WHISKS BIDEN AWAY AS HE STARTS DISCUSSING AFGHANISTAN: VIDEO

Biden was then seen walking away from the reporters. 

During the 2022 Easter Egg Roll, a person dressed in a bunny suit was seen approaching Biden as he spoke candidly to members of the media about Afghanistan and Pakistan.  (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The bunny incident unfolded ahead of the fierce scrutiny Biden faced from Democrats and conservatives over his mental acuity and age in the lead-up to the 2024 election. 

Footage of the Easter bunny directing Biden at a public event was rehashed as concern mounted last summer over whether the president had the mental and physical ability to continue running for re-election and potentially remain in the Oval Office. Biden ultimately dropped out and endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrat Party’s nominee. Harris ultimately failed to rally enough support to defeat Trump at the polls. 

Biden administration honors Trans Day of Visibility on holy Christian holiday

The Biden administration landed in hot water with the religious faithful and conservatives during the 2024 Easter season when honoring «Transgender Day of Visibility» on Easter Sunday. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Biden administration landed in hot water with the religious faithful and conservatives during the 2024 Easter season when honoring «Transgender Day of Visibility» on Easter Sunday. 

«On Transgender Day of Visibility, we honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union — where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives,» said a White House statement recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday, Fox Digital previously reported. 

«Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back,» it added. 

3 MONTHS AND 28 DAYS: LGBTQ EVENTS CLOG CALENDAR AS WHITE HOUSE FACES BACKLASH OVER EASTER ANNOUNCEMENT

International Transgender Day of Visibility was created by activists more than 10 years ago and is celebrated each year on March 31, while Easter — t​​he most holy holiday for Christians — moves its day of celebration each year, but is always observed on a Sunday. 

Conservatives, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., ripped the White House’s decision to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter, calling it an attack on Christianity.

«The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter — which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ,» Johnson posted to X last March. «Banning sacred truth and tradition—while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as «Transgender Day»—is outrageous and abhorrent. The American people are taking note.»

Former White House spokesman Andrew Bates defended at the time that Biden, as a Christian, was working to bring «people together» with the event.

«As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,» Bates told Fox Digital last year. 

Biden appears to introduce the «Oyster» bunny 

Biden suffered another Easter gaffe last year at the White House’s Egg Roll when he apparently flubbed the pronunciation of «Easter» and appeared to say «oyster» instead while introducing a pair of Easter bunnies. 

CRITICISMS MOUNT THAT BIDEN IS A ‘SHADOW’ OF HIMSELF AFTER DISASTROUS DEBATE: ‘NOT THE SAME MAN’ FROM VP ERA

«God bless you all, enjoy the day, and I’m coming down to do that Easter Egg roll in just a minute,» Biden said while standing on the White House’s Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn. 

Biden suffered another Easter gaffe last year at the White House’s Egg Roll when he apparently flubbed the pronunciation of «Easter» and appeared to say «oyster» instead while introducing a pair of Easter bunnies. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

«Thanks everybody. And by the way, say ‘hello’ to oyster bunnies. Come on up, bunnies. Get up here so they can see you,» Biden appeared to say. 

The apparent gaffe drew mockery online as some users wished each a «Happy Oyster.» It stirred concern over the president’s mental acuity over the mispronunciation. 

Biden White House press secretary delivers flat April Fools’ prank with Easter bunny 

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre delivered a flat April Fools’ joke in 2024 when the White House hosted the Easter Egg Roll. 

A person dressed as the Easter bunny was spotted in the press briefing room on April 1, 2024, before Jean-Pierre joined the media and delivered a joke that Biden was set to revoke the Hatch Act. 

The Hatch Act bans executive branch staffers, except the president and vice president, from engaging in certain forms of political activity. 

«Happy Easter Monday. So, I have something at the top for all of you and I think you’ll be really interested in this. So, President Biden is scheduled to announce he is revoking the Hatch Act,» Jean-Pierre said, grinning, while delivering the April Fools’ joke. «So as a gift to all of you, so now I can actually take all your questions about 2024.»

«No? I thought you would love that,» she responded as journalists demured. «All right. OK. April Fools’, April Fools’, April Fools’ — it is April 1st.»

DEMS LEFT WITH EGG ON THEIR FACE AS DNC APPEARS TO SNUB BIDEN ON EASTER

The administration’s Hatch Act joke followed repeated instances of administration officials citing the law while dodging questions about Biden’s 2024 campaign. 

This year, the Democratic National Committee shared an Easter message celebrating Democratic presidents across the year, but notably did not include a photo of Biden. Instead, the post featured former Presidents Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. 

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The Trump administration on Monday posted a side-by-side video of both Trump and Biden at their respective White House Easter Egg Rolls on Monday with the caption, «BREAKING: The White House is no longer a nursing home.»

Ahora lo lloran. Cuando alguien fallecía en el antiguo Egipto, la familia del difunto contrataba a mujeres para que llorasen e hiciesen público el dolor de la familia. Eran las plañideras o las lloronas. Se contrataban mujeres para llorar al muerto. Entonces, en muchos casos, la importancia del finado se medía por la cantidad de plañideras o de lloronas que acudían al funeral. Si había 20 lloronas, el muerto era importante. Si había 2 lloronas, el muerto era medio pelo. Si no había lloronas, el muerto era un plebeyo común y corriente.

¿Qué sucede con el papa Francisco? Ahora lo lloran después de haberle hecho la vida imposible. No lo querían ni un poco. Lo trataban de basura, fascista, cómplice de la dictadura, amigo de Clarín, jefe de la oposición. En el programa 678, la periodista Cyntia García lo acusó a Bergoglio de “callar” sobre el robo de bebés en la dictadura. Ahora esta misma gente habla de Francisco como el mejor Papa de la historia. Es todo lo que escuché en las últimas horas sobre Francisco: el mejor Papa, el Papa de los pobres, el Papa jesuita, el Papa de los gays, el Papa del tercer mundo, el Papa peronista, el Papa del subdesarrollo, el pastor que olía a oveja, el argentino más importante, el mejor de los nuestros, único e irrepetible, no habrá otro igual, el Papa que rompió el molde ¡Cuánta hipocresía! ¡Cuánto cinismo! ¡Cuánto farsante suelto!

Leé también: El Vaticano confirmó que el papa Francisco murió tras sufrir un derrame cerebral

Por eso siempre pedimos aquí no dejarse psicopatear por esta gente. Estuvieron 10 años hablando pestes de Bergoglio y ahora están pidiendo que lo canonicen y que lo declaren “San Francisco”. Les doy un poco más de contexto. En 2010 se votó la ley de matrimonio igualitario. ¿Qué ocurrió? El entonces Arzobispo Bergoglio dijo que era “una movida del diablo”. Inmediatamente, el matrimonio Kirchner salió furioso con los tapones de punta contra Bergoglio. Siempre lo odiaron; siempre lo maltrataron.

Incluso Néstor Kirchner llegó a decir en 2008 en plena guerra contra el campo que Bergoglio era el “verdadero” jefe de la oposición. La frase exacta fue: “Bergoglio es el jefe espiritual de la oposición política.” Hasta que un día lo nombraron Papa y Cristina tuvo que retroceder en chancletas.

Esto fue en 2013 en Tecnópolis. El público kirchnerista abucheó a Francisco. ¿Qué hizo Cristina? Lo dejó correr. ¿Por qué? Porque no soportaba otro Argentino más importante que ella. El delirio de la megalomanía. ¿Qué pasó después? Se dieron cuenta que no garpaba pegarle. Entonces lo empezaron a usar políticamente.

Leé también: Quiénes son los cuatro cardenales argentinos que votarán al nuevo papa y podrían suceder a Francisco

Primero, le arrebataron una foto con Martín Insaurralde para la campaña de 2013. Después, La Cámpora se fue a sacar una foto con Francisco en Roma: Larroque, Ottavis, Wado de Pedro, Zannini, Leandro Santoro, Julián Domínguez. Y después incluso algunos corruptos como Milagro Sala intentaron pegarse a Francisco para lavar su imagen.

Por eso digo que estamos ante impostores de la moral. Ahora, yendo al punto central, seguramente lo que más duela es perder a Francisco sin que haya visitado a su país, la Argentina. ¿Cuántos viajes pastorales hizo Francisco como Papa? Realizó 48 viajes y visitó 66 países. Estuvo 20 veces en Europa, 14 veces en Asia, 7 veces en América Latina, 4 veces en África, 2 veces en América del Norte y 1 vez en Oceanía. Visitó casi todos los países de las 3 Américas: Brasil (2013), Ecuador (2015), Bolivia (2015), Paraguay (2015), Cuba (2015), EE.UU. (2015), México (2016), Colombia (2017), Chile (2018), Perú (2018), Panamá (2019), Canadá (2022). Pero no pisó la Argentina.

Leé también: El mensaje de Lionel Messi por la muerte de Francisco: “Fue un papa distinto, cercano y argentino”

¿Por qué? Nunca lo sabremos. No lo cuidamos. No lo supimos cuidar. No lo quisimos cuidar. No sabemos. Lo que sí sabemos es que fue el Argentino más usado de la historia. Y los mismos que hoy lo lloran son aquellos que lo trataban de ser la peor lacra de la Argentina. Cuidado. De una mentira nace una duda. De una duda nace la desconfianza. De la desconfianza nace la distancia. Y de la distancia nace el olvido. Pues bien, prohibido olvidar. Estamos frente a verdaderos impostores.

Pope Francis, 88, the oldest pope in over a century, died Monday morning, though quiet discussions on who could succeed him have reportedly already begun. 

While any male Catholic could in theory be chosen to sit in the papal seat, historically, succeeding popes have been selected from the Sacred College of Cardinals since 1378, according to Religion News Service.

Currently, there are 252 cardinals in the body who have been selected by the Holy Father to serve as his advisors and assistants. 

Here is a look at some of the most likely forerunners to serve as the 267th pope, according to public reporting.

POPE FRANCIS DEAD AT 88, VATICAN SAYS

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy

Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, is the highest-ranking diplomat in the Holy See – which is the governing body of the Catholic Church – and is believed to be among the cardinals most likely to be elected to the top position.

His favor among cardinals in the Sacred College, who will vote on the next pope, is due to his politically moderate position and his career in diplomacy, reported The New York Post.

Parolin, who spent part of his career in Mexico and Nicaragua, was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 and would likely be seen as an extension of the current papacy. 

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

The Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, attends the blessing ceremony of the newly opened reception and integration center for Ukrainian refugees during the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia in Kosice, Slovakia, on Sept. 15, 2023. (Robert Nemeti/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, Philippines

Tagle is also believed to be a frontrunner among voting cardinals and serves as the pro-prefect for the section of first evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as well as president of the Interdicasterial Commission for Consecrated Religious.

He has been dubbed the «Asian Pope Francis» particularly for their similarities when it comes to their more embracing position of the LGBTQI community than their predecessors. 

In a 2015 interview, Tagle said the Church’s «severe» position on the LGBTQI community, divorcees and single mothers was doing it harm. 

According to the Catholic Herald, Tagle «would be hailed by liberals, given the changing demographic of the Church.»

Pope Francis greets Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sept. 4, 2024. (Tiziana FabiI/AFP via Getty Images)

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Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, Hungary

There are several conservative cardinals who are believed to be top contenders for the papacy, including Cardinal Peter Erdo, who has been critical of Francis’ position on divorce and immigration.

Erdo has argued that divorced or re-married Catholics should not be allowed to receive Holy Communion due to his position regarding the «indissolubility of marriage.»

The Catholic Herald pointed out that appointing a conservative pope following Francis’ tenure would «send a powerful message about the direction the Church would be taking.»

Erdo has also differed from Francis greatly on immigration and argued in 2015 that permitting refugees to resettle is tantamount to human trafficking.

Pope Francis greets the archbishop of Budapest, Cardinal Péter Erdő, after arriving in Budapest, Hungary, on April 28, 2023. (Vatican Media Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, Democratic Republic of Congo

Another conservative cardinal thought to be a serious contender is Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the war-torn nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Membership of the Catholic Church in Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, according to the Associated Press.

Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The 65-year-old Ambongo controversially rejected Pope Francis’ blessing of same-sex couples by the Catholic Church. In a letter signed by other African priests, they said they refused to follow the pontiff’s declaration because such unions are «contrary to the will of God.»

Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, United States of America

The Wisconsin native and former archbishop of St. Louis is considered to be the leading American candidate. The 76-year-old cardinal is also viewed as being from the conservative side of the Church. 

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke attends the Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals led by Pope Francis at the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

He is a proponent of the Latin Mass, and has been critical of Pope Francis regarding the Church’s new language around artificial contraception, LGBT issues and civil marriages. Burke was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy

Pope Francis meets with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on Aug. 24, 2023, in Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

Zuppi was born in Rome. He is the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and is viewed as an insider in Francis’ Vatican, having served as the archbishop of Bologna.

The 69-year-old Zuppi is seen as being one of Pope Francis’ favorites. He was sent on a peace mission in 2023 to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was also sent to meet with President Joe Biden that same year. 

Zuppi was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019.

The Vote

Of the 252 cardinals in the Sacred College, only 138 are under the age of 80 and therefore are permitted to participate in the conclave, the papal election process – though there are no age limitations for the candidate who would serve as the future pope. 

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Following the death of a pope, the conclave then holds a vote, and will continue to vote, until a pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority. 

At that time, the ballots will be burned with a chemical that produces white smoke, as opposed to black smoke, to alert the world that a new pope has been chosen.