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President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Despite political differences, 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 during a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as the country’s leader. He mentioned that he has pardoned turkeys in the past few years, and this year, Peach and Blossom were the lucky ones to be pardoned based on their good behavior. He also mentioned that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and that it was his last time speaking as president during this season. Biden expressed his thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague.
Writing from the nation
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
The short speech, containing only a few jokes and witty remarks, acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president was speaking next to Peach, who made loud noises that were captured by the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this time."
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He wore his signature aviator sunglasses while listing the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.
The president changed his tone to a more serious one to recognize the emotional truth that the holiday season signified the nearing end of his presidency and potentially his long career in public service of over 50 years.
"This will be my final time addressing you as your president during this time of year, and expressing my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "So I want to tell you, it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady were planning to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they were with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During the event, President Biden took the time 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 set aside some time 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 significant changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden cherished. He left those at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message, avoiding the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s capital.
He expressed that in America, people always persevere and never give up. He emphasized the importance of continuing on and maintaining faith.
Zach Montague is a journalist from The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his profile on The Times.
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