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Biden Bids Farewell to Presidential Turkeys in Annual Pardon Ceremony

In Citizen
November 28, 2024

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In his final act as president, Biden pardoned turkeys during a light-hearted ceremony. Regardless of political views, he expressed gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.

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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as the country’s leader. He mentioned that in the past four years, he had pardoned other turkeys named Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell, and now Peach and Blossom. He pardoned Peach and Blossom based on their behavior and dedication to being productive members of society. Biden also acknowledged that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and reflected on his time as president, expressing his gratitude to the American people.

Written by Zach Montague

Reporting from the nation

On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition and expressing gratitude to the nation.

The brief speech mentioned Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, who were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of President Biden’s home state. The speech included a few jokes and witty remarks.

The president was standing next to Peach, who was making loud gobbles that could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing people in the audience to laugh.

The president mentioned that Peach is asking for something urgently.

Mr. Biden shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He was wearing his signature aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.

The president shifted to a more solemn demeanor to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the end of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.

"This will be my final speech as your president during this time, where I express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am thankful beyond words."

On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue a tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they were celebrating with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this event, President Biden took a moment to honor those who have lost loved ones, specifically mentioning his late son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

He suggested that we should seize this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.

Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s impending inauguration in two months hinted at significant changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden often valued. Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message to attendees at the ceremony.

He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never give up. We continue to move forward and hold onto our beliefs.

Zach Montague is a journalist for the Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. Learn more about Zach Montague.

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