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President Biden granted clemency to turkeys as a tradition before Thanksgiving for the final time in his term. Regardless of political differences, he took the chance during the light-hearted event 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 White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as the president. He mentioned that over the past four years, he had pardoned other turkeys named Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell, and now Peach and Blossom. He pardoned Peach and Blossom based on their behavior and commitment to being productive members of society. President Biden also noted that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president. He ended his speech by thanking everyone and expressing his gratitude for the honor of being president.
Written by Zach Montague
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President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, continuing a tradition that is 77 years old. He also took a moment to express gratitude to the country.
During a brief speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. They were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
During the speech, the president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling noises were heard on the microphone multiple times, drowning out Mr. Biden and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president stated that Peach is making a final appeal at this moment," was mentioned in the conversation.
Mr. Biden shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is to remain calm and enjoy eating, as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office. He was wearing his famous aviator sunglasses while speaking.
The president adopted a more somber attitude to recognize the emotional truth that the holidays signified the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final opportunity to address you all as your president for this term, and express my appreciation and thanks," commented Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and his wife were planning 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 the 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 suggested that we seize this opportunity to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize the most important thing in our lives: our families.
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 often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key as we always continue moving forward and holding onto our beliefs.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the Times who reports on topics such as the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. You can find out more about Zach Montague on his profile.
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