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President Biden granted clemency to turkeys as a Thanksgiving tradition for the final time during his presidency. Despite the political context, the president took the opportunity during the festive ceremony to express gratitude to the country 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 his gratitude for serving as the country’s leader. He mentioned that he has pardoned other turkeys in the past four years and announced that Peach and Blossom would also be pardoned this year. He also stated that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president.
Authored by Zach Montague
Filing a report
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition of the event and taking 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 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, whose loud gobbling noises were 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 request at this moment," expressed the president.
On the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with the crowd his motto of "stay calm and eat on," all while wearing his classic aviator sunglasses and listing off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.
The president adopted a somber tone to recognize the significant fact that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service that has spanned over five decades.
"This will be the last time I address you as president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you 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 the time to honor those who have lost loved ones, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He expressed the importance of pausing from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families in this moment.
The inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump in two months sparked uncertainty in the nation’s capital. Many of the norms and traditions that President Biden cherished during his term were expected to be changed. Despite this, President Biden gave a simple and non-political message to attendees before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and we always continue on and stay hopeful.
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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