Prom
Backed by
President Biden granted clemency to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, he took this light-hearted opportunity to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
written record of
President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, continuing the tradition of granting clemency to the birds. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief and mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned. This year, the turkeys named Peach and Blossom were pardoned based on their behavior and potential as productive members of society. Biden acknowledged that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and shared his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president. He expressed that it had been an honor and that he was forever grateful.
Authored by Zach Montague
Reporting live from the
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing 77-year 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 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.
During the speech, the president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose noises were loud enough to be heard on 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," stated the president.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "stay calm and eat on," as he listed the names of the turkeys he has pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president adopted a more solemn demeanor to recognize the bittersweet fact that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his time in office and potentially the end of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This is my final time speaking here as your president during this time, and expressing my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to say to all of you, it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady had plans to continue a tradition of theirs by serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they celebrated with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this gathering, President Biden took a moment to honor those who have lost loved ones, including his late son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He expressed the importance of taking a break from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families in this moment.
The uncertainty in Washington D.C. was not directly acknowledged, but there was a sense that President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration would bring significant changes to the usual norms and traditions that President Biden had enjoyed. Despite this, President Biden ended the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message before taking photos with Peach.
He mentioned that in America, we always persevere and never give up. We continue to move forward and maintain our optimism.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who writes about the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his page on The Times website.
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation for information on the