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Biden chose to pardon turkeys in a light-hearted ceremony as his last act as President, expressing gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned past pardons and announced that this year, Peach and Blossom would be pardoned based on their behavior. He noted that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for serving as president. Biden closed by saying it has been an honor and he is thankful.
Authored by Zach Montague
Updating from the capital
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the longstanding 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
The short speech, which contained a few jokes and witty remarks, acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two 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 stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard through the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at the last minute," he stated.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on," as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time in office while wearing his trademark aviator sunglasses.
The president adopted a more somber attitude to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his time as president, 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 time of year, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that it has been a great privilege for me. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue a tradition of serving food at a holiday celebration with friends, this time with members of the Coast Guard and their families in 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 should 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 inauguration in two months hinted at changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden frequently praised as president. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, Mr. Biden gave a straightforward and non-political message to attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed the sentiment that in America, people always persevere and never give up, continuing to have faith and keep moving forward.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click here.
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