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As his presidency comes to a close, Biden pardoned turkeys in a light-hearted ceremony, taking the opportunity to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve. Politics were put aside for the moment.
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President Biden pardoned the last turkeys of his presidency in a White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief. He continued the tradition of pardoning turkeys by granting clemency to Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell in the past four years. This year, Peach and Blossom were pardoned based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. Biden also noted that this event marked the official start of the holiday season in Washington and expressed thanks and gratitude to the people, saying it has been the honor of his life to serve as president.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden spent eight minutes on Monday granting 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 short speech, only a few jokes and witty remarks were made, acknowledging 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 President Biden’s home state.
The president was talking next to a turkey named Peach, whose noises could be heard on the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter from the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute," expressed the president.
Mr. Biden shared with spectators on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He wore his signature aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president adopted a more somber demeanor to recognize the emotional truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be the final time I address you as your president during this period, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden announced. "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday celebration 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 lost loved ones, including his son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take advantage of this moment to step away 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 that President Biden valued. Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is not an option. It is important to continue moving forward and maintain belief in oneself.
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. For more information about Zach Montague, please visit his profile.
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