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President Biden granted a pardon to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Putting politics aside, he used the light-hearted event to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief. He mentioned that over the last four years, he has pardoned several pairs of turkeys, including Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell. This year, Peach and Blossom are the lucky turkeys to receive a pardon based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. President Biden also noted that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Providing updates from
President Biden took eight minutes on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude to the nation.
The short speech only contained a few jokes and witty remarks, and it acknowledged 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.
The president was speaking next to a turkey named Peach, whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd at the White House that his motto is to "stay calm and keep eating" while mentioning the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president adopted a somber tone to recognize the bittersweet reality that the holiday season signified the final days of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public office spanning over five decades.
"This is my final opportunity to address you as your president during this time, and express my appreciation," mentioned Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends, this year 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 stated that we should take advantage of this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at potential changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden cherished as president. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony.
He mentioned that in America, people always persevere and continue to have faith no matter what happens.
Zach Montague is a journalist from The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, please visit his bio.
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