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President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, he took the opportunity during the light-hearted ceremony to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional ceremony at the White House, expressing appreciation for his time as leader of the country. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would be the latest recipients of clemency. Biden also acknowledged that this event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and reflected on his time as president with gratitude. He expressed that serving as president had been a great honor for him.
Written by Zach Montague
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President Biden made an appearance on Monday that lasted for eight minutes to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the longstanding 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and witty remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of Mr. Biden’s home state.
The president was speaking next to Peach, whose loud noises could be heard on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final plea at this moment."
Mr. Biden, wearing his signature aviators, shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of "keep calm and gobble on." He also listed the names of the turkeys he has pardoned during his four years in office.
The president adopted a more solemn attitude to recognize the bittersweet fact that the beginning of the holidays signaled the final phase of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be the last time I address you as your president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to say that it has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food to friends at a holiday gathering, 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, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He recommended that we take a break from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families at this moment.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at potential changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden often cherished. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, President Biden delivered a non-political message to the attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never lose hope. We continue to move forward and hold onto our belief.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the New York Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. Learn more about Zach Montague.
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