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Biden granted clemency to turkeys as his final act as President. Putting politics aside, he expressed gratitude to the country during a light-hearted ceremony for allowing him to serve as President.
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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 previous turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would be joining the ranks of pardoned turkeys. He also noted that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made an appearance that lasted eight minutes on Monday to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During a brief speech, only 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.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling was captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated by the president.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that his motto is "keep calm and gobble on." He wore his usual aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time in office.
The president adopted a more somber attitude to recognize the bittersweet fact that the holidays signified the nearing conclusion of his presidency and potentially his retirement from public service after over five decades.
"This will be my final time addressing you as your president during this time, so I want to express my appreciation and thanks," Mr. Biden stated. "I want you to know that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady had plans to continue a 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 this 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 should take advantage of this moment to pause our hectic routines and prioritize our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at major changes to norms and traditions that Mr. Biden cherished during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in the capital, Mr. Biden shared a straightforward and non-political message with attendees at the ceremony.
He emphasized that in America, we always persevere and maintain hope, never giving up no matter what challenges we may face.
Zach Montague is a journalist from The Times who reports on the activities of the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his profile.
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