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President Biden, in a non-political gesture, pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. During the light-hearted ceremony, he expressed gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president one last time.
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President Biden granted clemency to two turkeys during a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned that in the past four years, he has pardoned several pairs of turkeys, and this year, Peach and Blossom are the lucky ones. He pardoned them based on their behavior and dedication to being good members of society. President Biden also mentioned that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and it is his last time speaking as president during this season. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president and thanked the American people for their support.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
The short speech acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, who were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of President Biden’s home state. The speech contained only a few jokes and humorous remarks.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute.
At the White House’s South Lawn, Mr. Biden shared with spectators his motto of "stay calm and enjoy your meal," as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president changed his tone to be more serious as he recognized the bittersweet reality that the holiday season signified the final chapter of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This is the final time I will address you 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 privilege of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food to friends at a holiday celebration, 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, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested using this moment as an opportunity to step back from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Prior to 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, causing uncertainty in the nation’s capital. Despite this, Mr. Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed the sentiment that Americans always persevere and never lose hope, no matter the circumstances.
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. You can find out more about Zach Montague by visiting his profile.
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