WASHINGTON — Opening his first White House Easter Egg Roll, President Donald Trump extolled the strength of America as thousands of kids, and some adults, reveled in the time-honored tradition of rolling hard-boiled eggs across the manicured lawn in his back yard.

“This is the 139th Easter Egg Roll. Think of it, 139,” Trump said Monday, welcoming families to the annual event, which was dampened by intermittent rain. “And we will be stronger and bigger and better as a nation than ever before. We’re right on track,” he said, speaking of the nation’s strength under fewer than 100 days of his leadership.

Trump’s wife, Melania, and their son, Barron, 11, and the Easter Bunny joined him on a balcony overlooking the expansive lawn before they went downstairs to join some of the 21,000 people who were expected to attend what is the biggest social event every year at the White House.

Before joining the festivities with his family, Trump thanked his wife for “working on this for a long time to make it perfect.”

There was, however, some speculation about whether the Trumps would be able to pull off a successful “egg-stravaganza.”

Both Trump and the first lady have been slow to fill White House jobs, and at least one regular egg roll vendor took to Twitter — the president’s favorite social medium — to remind the White House that a deadline for ordering the wooden eggs that are given out as souvenirs was approaching.

But the egg rolling event wouldn’t be made to disappear.

It was just made smaller, down from the 35,000 people who got tickets last year, but it retained such activities as a reading nook, an area to send messages to U.S. troops and an entertainment stage.

“As we renew this tradition, thank you for joining us,” the first lady said.

Moments later, Trump blew a whistle three times, each time sending groups of youngsters scurrying to deftly use a wooden spoon to maneuver their dyed egg several yards across the finish line.