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President Biden has granted a pardon to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Putting politics aside, he took part in a light-hearted ceremony to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president once again.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned that he had previously pardoned other turkeys during his presidency and now Peach and Blossom will also be pardoned. This event also signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and Biden expressed his gratitude for serving as president.
Written by Zach Montague.
Delivering news updates
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
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, named after the peach blossoms of Delaware, which is the official flower of Mr. Biden’s state.
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," was stated.
On the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with the audience his motto of staying calm and enjoying good food. He wore his distinctive aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his time in office.
The president changed his tone to a more somber one to recognize the emotional truth that the holidays signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service after over five decades.
"This will be my final speech as your president during this season, where I express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I am grateful beyond words."
On Monday, the president and the first lady were planned to continue a tradition by 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 tradition, President Biden took a moment to acknowledge those who have lost loved ones, specifically honoring his late son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take advantage of 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 major changes to the norms and traditions celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., Mr. Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and have resilience. We continue forward and hold on to our beliefs.
Zach Montague is a journalist from The 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, click here.
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