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President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political differences, he expressed gratitude to the country during the light-hearted event for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, continuing a tradition of granting clemency to the birds. He expressed gratitude for his time as president and for the opportunity to pardon turkeys throughout his presidency. The turkeys named Peach and Blossom were pardoned based on their good behavior and contribution to society. This event also marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and President Biden’s final speech as president during this time. He expressed his gratitude and said it has been an honor to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
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President Biden made an appearance on Monday that lasted eight minutes to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to reflect and express gratitude towards the country.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two 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 talking next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were caught on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," said the president.
Mr. Biden, wearing his signature aviator sunglasses, shared with onlookers on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is "keep calm and gobble on." He also listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president’s demeanor changed to one of seriousness as he recognized the significance of the holiday season marking the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over 50 years.
"This will be the final time I address you as your president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am thankful forever."
On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue their tradition of serving food to friends celebrating the holiday together. This year, they were doing so 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 take advantage of this moment to pause our hectic schedules and concentrate on the most important thing in our lives: our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at potential changes to the usual norms and traditions that President Biden valued. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, President Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message to attendees at the ceremony.
He stated that in America, we always persevere and never quit. We continue to push forward and have belief in ourselves.
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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