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As his presidency nears its end, Biden participated in the traditional pardoning of turkeys, using the event as a chance to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president. The ceremony had a light-hearted tone, focusing on the holiday tradition rather than politics.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys, Peach and Blossom, in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for his time as commander in chief. This ceremony marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and also serves as President Biden’s final address during this time as president. He thanked the American people for the honor of serving as their president and expressed his gratitude for the experience.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
On Monday, President Biden spent eight minutes pardoning two Thanksgiving turkeys, recognizing the 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During a short and to the point speech, Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, were acknowledged. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbles could be heard on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment."
Mr. Biden, while wearing his famous aviator sunglasses, shared with the crowd gathered on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "stay calm and keep eating" and listed the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.
The president changed his demeanor to a more solemn one as he recognized the significant fact that the holiday season signaled the nearing conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the end of his long career in public service spanning over 50 years.
"This will be the final time I address you as your president in this time of year, and express my appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president 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 gathering 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 acknowledge those who have experienced the loss of a family member, honoring his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take a break from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families during this moment.
Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at a potential change in the norms and traditions that President Biden valued. Before taking photos with Peach, Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message to the attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed the belief that Americans always persevere and stay resilient, never losing hope and continuing to move forward.
Zach Montague is a journalist from The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. You can find out more about Zach Montague by visiting his profile.
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