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President Biden has pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Putting political differences aside, he used the light-hearted event as a chance 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 thanks for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would now be pardoned as well. This event also signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and marks Biden’s final time speaking as president during this time. He expressed gratitude for his time in office and said it had been an honor.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, continuing a tradition that is 77 years old. He took a moment to thank the country before the pardons were given.
During a short and to-the-point speech, Peach and Blossom were acknowledged. These two birds, weighing over 40 pounds each, were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
During the event, the president stood next to Peach, whose loud sounds could be heard through 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 the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He was wearing his usual aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president changed his demeanor to a more serious one to acknowledge the emotional reality that the holidays signaled the final stretch of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final speech as your president during this time, where I express my gratitude and thanks," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to say that serving as your president 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 at a gathering with friends to celebrate the holiday. 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 take a break from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families during this moment.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at potential changes to longstanding norms and traditions in Washington, D.C., causing uncertainty. Despite this, President Biden delivered a straightforward and nonpartisan message to those present at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and remain resilient. We continue to move forward and hold on to hope.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on 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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