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Biden granted a pardon to turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political affiliations, the president took the opportunity during a cheerful ceremony to express 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 turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would be pardoned this year based on their behavior. He also spoke about the holiday season starting in Washington and thanked the audience for their support during his presidency. Biden ended by expressing his gratitude for serving as president.
Authored by Zach Montague
Reporting live from the
President Biden made an appearance on Monday that lasted eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the country.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and clever 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 the state where Mr. Biden is from.
During the event, the president was speaking next to Peach, whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing the audience to laugh.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with spectators on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is to remain calm and continue pardoning turkeys. He wore his usual aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his time in office.
The president changed his tone to a more serious one to recognize the sad truth that the holidays signaled the final stage of his presidency and could potentially be the end of his career in public service after over 50 years.
"This is the final time I will speak here as your president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest honor of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and the 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 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 pause our hectic routines and prioritize our families above all else.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump hinted at potential changes to the norms and traditions celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency, creating uncertainty in the nation’s capital. Despite this, Mr. Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and giving up is never an option. The importance of continuing to move forward and maintaining belief in oneself was emphasized.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The New York Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. For additional information about Zach Montague, please refer to his bio.
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