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President Biden decided to pardon two turkeys in a traditional ceremony, marking his last time doing so as president. Despite any political differences, he took the opportunity to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden has pardoned two turkeys in a ceremony at the White House, thanking them for serving as commander in chief. He mentioned that in the past four years, he has pardoned other pairs of turkeys, and now Peach and Blossom will be joining the other pardoned turkeys in the United States. He pardoned them based on their behavior 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
Updating from the nation
On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude towards the country.
During a short speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each and named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of the state where Mr. Biden is from.
The president was speaking next to Peach, whose loud noises were captured by 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 the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He also mentioned the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his trademark aviator sunglasses.
The president’s demeanor changed to a more serious one as he acknowledged the bittersweet reality that the holidays signaled the final period of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his decades-long career in public service.
"This will be my final time speaking as your president during this time, to express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that serving as president has been the greatest honor of my life, and 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 year, they were at a gathering with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During the event, President Biden took a moment to acknowledge those who have lost loved ones, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we should take advantage of this moment to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our loved ones, our families.
Ignoring the unknown factors in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at significant changes to the usual customs and practices that President Biden frequently praised. He delivered a straightforward and nonpartisan message to those present at the event before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is never an option. The belief in continuing forward and staying faithful is ingrained in the American spirit.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the New York Times who reports on news related to the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his profile
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