Prom
Backed by
Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, the president took the opportunity during the light-hearted ceremony to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve.
Written record of
President Biden has decided to pardon two turkeys in a traditional ceremony at the White House, thanking them for their service during his presidency. He mentioned that he has pardoned other turkeys in the past and today, Peach and Blossom will also be pardoned. This event signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and it is also President Biden’s last time speaking at this event as president. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president and thanked everyone for their support.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made an appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, continuing a tradition that has been going on for 77 years. He briefly reflected on the tradition and expressed gratitude to the country.
During a brief speech, only a few jokes and witty 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 Mr. Biden’s state.
During the speech, the president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were captured by 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," was stated.
Mr. Biden, wearing his distinctive aviator sunglasses, informed the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House about his motto of staying calm and enjoying the moment. He also listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president shifted to a more somber demeanor to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his decades-long career in public service.
"This is my final time addressing you as your president for this term, and 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 first lady planned to continue a 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 experienced the loss of family members, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested using this opportunity 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 changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden cherished during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees during the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and remain resilient. We continue moving forward and maintain our beliefs.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. For more information about Zach Montague, please visit his profile.
Prom
Navigation to site information is available through the site index