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Biden’s Last Turkey Pardon: A Thanksgiving Tradition Comes to a Close

In Citizen
November 28, 2024

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Biden, as president, granted clemency to turkeys for the final time. Putting politics aside, he utilized the playful event to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.

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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing appreciation for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that this year’s turkeys, Peach and Blossom, would also be pardoned based on their behavior. Biden also noted that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.

Written by Zach Montague

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On Monday, President Biden made an eight-minute appearance to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude to the country.

During a brief speech that included only a few jokes and funny remarks, Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, were acknowledged. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.

The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.

"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," said the president.

At the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden entertained spectators by sharing his motto "stay calm and enjoy eating" as he listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.

The president’s demeanor shifted to a more somber one as he acknowledged the bittersweet truth that the holidays signaled the final stretch of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.

"This will be my final speech as your president during this time, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to let you know that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."

On Monday, the president and the first lady had plans to continue a tradition of serving food at a holiday celebration with friends, this time with members of the Coast Guard and their families in 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 take advantage of this moment to pause 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 significant changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden often praised as president. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden left those at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.

He expressed that in America, we always persevere and have unwavering faith, no matter the circumstances.

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

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