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President Biden participated in his final turkey pardoning ceremony, taking a break from political matters to express gratitude towards the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden decided to grant clemency to two turkeys during a traditional White House ceremony. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the leader of the country. Biden mentioned that during his presidency, he has pardoned several pairs of turkeys, including Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, and Liberty and Bell. The two turkeys being pardoned this year are named Peach and Blossom. He pardoned them based on their behavior and their commitment to being productive members of society. Biden also acknowledged that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and that it is his last time speaking as president during this season. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president and stated that it has been the honor of his life.
Written by Zach Montague
Reporting live from the
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition that is 77 years old. He also took a moment to express gratitude towards the country.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and funny remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
During the event, the president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated the source.
Mr. Biden, wearing his signature aviators, shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is to ‘keep calm and gobble on’. He listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president adopted a more somber attitude to recognize the bittersweet fact that the holiday season signaled the final chapter of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final opportunity to address you as your president during this time, and express my gratitude," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to convey to you that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends, this time 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 son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we should take advantage of this opportunity to pause in our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Despite not discussing the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration indicated a potential change in the norms and traditions celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency. He ended the ceremony with a non-political message before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, the attitude is always to persevere and have faith, no matter the circumstances.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The New York Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal court proceedings. To learn more about Zach Montague, please visit his profile.
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