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The president, Biden, pardoned turkeys as a tradition for the last time during his presidency. Despite the political context, he used the festive event as a chance to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned a pair of turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his role as commander in chief. He mentioned that he had pardoned other turkey pairs in the past four years, and now Peach and Blossom will also be pardoned. This event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and Biden’s last time speaking as president during this time. He thanked the audience for the honor of serving as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
On Monday, President Biden spent eight minutes pardoning two Thanksgiving turkeys as part of a long-standing tradition. He briefly acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude for the country.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and witty remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named in honor of Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request," was what was stated.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is "keep calm and gobble on." He was wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his time in office.
The president adopted a more solemn attitude to recognize the emotional truth that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service that had spanned over five decades.
"This marks the final time I will address you as your president during this period, expressing my appreciation and thanks," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey 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 were planning to continue a tradition of serving food to friends celebrating the holiday together. This year, they were 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, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take a break from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families and what is truly important in life.
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 often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden concluded the ceremony with a straightforward and nonpartisan message to attendees.
He expressed the sentiment that in America, perseverance is key. It is important to continue moving forward and maintaining belief in oneself.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click here.
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