Babies, bunnies and Biden: Joe nuzzles a young girl and stops another from crying as he joins thousands of children and son Hunter for the White House Easter Egg Roll

President Joe Biden comforted a crying girl, helped another in the egg race and cheered kids on during a wet and rainy White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

First lady Jill Biden and their son Hunter joined the president on the South Lawn for the festive occasion, which wasn't spoiled by the repeated rain coming down on the crowd of thousands.

'Easter reminds us of the power of hope and renewal,' he added. 'It's time to pray for one another.'

President Joe Biden chats to a child at the White House Easter Egg Roll

This year's Easter Egg Roll had it start time delayed by one hour as early morning lightening storms swept through Washington D.C.

The 40,000 expected attendees - 10,000 more than last year - bundled up with coats, ponchos and umbrellas against the elements. One child wore a blue poncho shaped like a dinosaur.

Jill Biden, a longtime teacher, added education components to the celebration, including stations for children to learn about farming, healthier eating, exercise and more. The theme of the event was an Egg-ucation.

'Education expands our horizons and transports us to new worlds,' Jill Biden said in her welcome to the crowd.

'I hope that you all learn something new today. But most importantly, I hope you all have fun.'

Miniature hot air balloons labeled Engineering, Science, Technology, Math, and Art decorated the back of the White House. 

A large schoolhouse erected on the South Lawn offered kids activities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM - including making circuit-breakers or simulating a fossil dig. 

'I'm a teacher so I love any time when we can turn the White House into a classroom,' the first lady said. 

During the Easter Egg Roll, an annual tradition that began in 1878, children could write notes to U.S. troops and first responders with Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization.

Both Bidens joined the kids on the South Lawn for the traditional egg race, where kids wack hard-boiled eggs across the lawn with a wooden spoon.

Biden introduced himself to the kiddos and comforted one little girl who was crying. He helped another get her egg across the finish line. 

He and the first lady took turns blowing the starting whistle. 

A child wearing a dinosaur poncho at the White House Easter Egg Roll

Hunter Biden kisses a baby as he greets guests on the South Lawn

President Joe Biden chatted with kids on the South Lawn

President Joe Biden comforts a little girl who was crying

President Biden helps with the egg race

Later, Jill Biden read Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see to a group of children as the rain continued to fall. She posed for pictures afterward.

Guests at the event included thousands of military and veteran families, their caregivers and survivors. Members of the general public could apply for tickets through an online lottery and were being admitted in nine waves until the evening.

Among those participating with the children was Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol against rioters on Jan. 6 and is now running for Congress in Maryland. Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, now a Senate candidate, high fived kids after their rolls. 

National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby brought his grandkids to experience the festivities. Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. Debbie Stabenow were also seen among the crowd.

The holiday wasn't without controversy, which Biden addressed to reporters. 

He told the press he  didn't name Easter Sunday the Transgender Day of Visibility and slammed Speaker Michael Johnson as being 'throughly uniformed' for claiming that.

Biden sparked outrage from conservatives over the weekend with his proclamation recognizing the day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people. 

Johnson, former President Donald Trump and many other conservatives slammed Biden, with the speaker calling the president's move 'outrageous.'

'I didn't do that,' Biden said when asked if he named Easter the Transgender Day of Visibility.

President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and the Easter Bunnies at the White House

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed nearly 40,000 guests to the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll

Hunter Biden joined his father President Joe Biden on the South Lawn

President Joe Biden blows the starting whistle as Jill Biden cheers on the kids at the Egg race

Jill Biden reads Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see?

March 31 has been designated as the day to honor the transgender movement internationally since 2009. This year March 31 also happened to be Easter Sunday. 

The president, asked to respond to Johnson's criticism, said: 'He's thoroughly uninformed.

The Transgender Day of Visibility was created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker, the executive director of advocacy group Transgender Michigan.

The holiday is 'a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces,' according to media monitoring nonprofit GLAAD.

Biden released a statement on Saturday to mark the occasion: '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,' it read.

'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.'

Biden was the first American president to issue a formal proclamation recognizing the event in 2021.

President Joe Biden talks to a guest at the Easter Egg Roll

President Joe Biden, center left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, center right, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, left, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, right, wave at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn 

The theme of this year's Easter Egg Roll was 'Egg-ucation'

Conservatives were outraged, led by Trump, Biden's rival in the 2024 presidential race.

Trump's national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt lambasted the proclamation as 'appalling and insulting.'

She claimed the announcement was evidence of the Biden administration's 'years-long assault on the Christian faith.'

And House Speaker Mike Johnson called the proclamation 'abhorrent.'

'The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter - which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Banning sacred truth and tradition - while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as 'Transgender Day' - is outrageous and abhorrent,' he said.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates slammed back, saying: 'As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American.'

'Sadly, it's unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit.'

And the eggs for Monday's event caused a controversy of their own.

The first lady invited the children of military families to send decorated eggs to the White House to be on display during the Egg Roll. 

The invitation called for children from families of the National Guard to submit artwork that would be painted on eggs, but banned 'any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.'

In response to the criticism, Jill Biden spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander noted the language in the invitation was standard and that it was used for several administrations, including Trump.

'*Fyi on all the misleading swirl re White House and Easter: the American Egg Board flyer's standard non-discrimination language requesting artwork has been used for the last 45 years, across all Dem & Republican Admins—for all WH Easter Egg Rolls —incl previous Administration's,' she wrote on X.