The Democratic Party took a virtual beating on Monday over what was supposed to be a slam-dunk zinger at President Donald Trump’s expense: a post claiming that persistently pricey eggs had driven desperate American families to dye potatoes for Easter instead.
The post, shared by @thedemocrats on X, took aim at Trump’s administration for going ahead with the annual Easter Egg Roll – and allegedly racking up a considerable bill for the thousands of eggs used there — while the people were left to contend with their leftover painted spuds and disappointment.
“Trump’s White House is using 30,000 real eggs worth over $15,500 for their Easter Egg Roll. Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money,” the post read.
Trump’s White House is using 30,000 real eggs worth over $15,500 for their Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Americans dyed potatoes instead of eggs this Easter to save money.
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) April 21, 2025
But as several critics quickly pointed out, the White House did not actually spend any money at all on the eggs used for the annual event — they were donated.
“I don’t know a single American dyeing potatoes. But I do know that the farmers who donated the eggs said they were not the sizes sold to grocery stores. Not a single egg was stolen off the table of an American family,” MRCTV managing Editor Brittany Hughes posted.
I don’t know a single American dyeing potatoes. But I do know that the farmers who donated the eggs said they were not the sizes sold to grocery stores.
Not a single egg was stolen off the table of an American family. https://t.co/AOPiLEd3IU
— Brittany Hughes (@RealBrittHughes) April 22, 2025
“Umm who dyed potatoes?” Robby Starbuck said, and while he also stated that the eggs were donated, he noted that the Biden administration had blown through more than twice the number of eggs at the last Easter Egg Roll in 2024. “Also, Biden’s Admin had 64,000 eggs at the 2024 Easter Egg roll. In both cases the eggs were donated. Stop treating people like they’re stupid, it’s just insulting.”
Umm who dyed potatoes? Also, Biden’s Admin had 64,000 eggs at the 2024 Easter Egg roll. In both cases the eggs were donated. Stop treating people like they’re stupid, it’s just insulting. 🙄 https://t.co/GxvucUbZzO
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 22, 2025
“Show me a single person who dyed a potato for Easter,” Riley Gaines threw down the challenge.
Show me a single person who dyed a potato for Easter https://t.co/uJ5996Bu0B
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 22, 2025
Several people suggested that the Democrats were taking a risk in assuming that those potatoes did not identify as eggs, while others noted that on a strict one-to-one basis, potatoes might actually cost more than eggs.
“So a man can become a woman but a potato can’t be an egg? You sound like a bigot,” one said.
So a man can become a woman but a potato can’t be an egg? You sound like a bigot.
— Magills (@magills_) April 21, 2025
“I’m increasingly certain Republicans have successfully placed one or more moles in the Dem communications apparatus,” another said.
So where did the Democrats’ outlandish claim come from? Apparently from a throwaway article published by The New York Times that was loosely based on a social media video that gave step-by-step instructions on how to dye egg alternatives.
“The @NYTimes had an absurd headline claiming Americans are dyeing potatoes due to the price of eggs this year, but the only mention of potatoes in the article was a reference to video instructions for eggs dyeing alternatives that were starting to circulate on social media,” one post read.
The @nytimes had an absurd headline claiming Americans are dyeing potatoes due to the price of eggs this year, but the only mention of potatoes in the article was a reference to video instructions for eggs dyeing alternatives that were starting to circulate on social media. https://t.co/dboazH7QaS pic.twitter.com/Ff1cvWlC5e
— Kelley K (@KelleyKga) April 21, 2025
The “let’s dye potatoes instead” trend actually started two years earlier, when egg prices hit record highs (an average of $4.82 per dozen) in 2022-2023. On April 2, 2023, Axios published an article titled, “Potatoes sprout as cheaper Easter egg substitute.”
