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The president, regardless of political beliefs, chose to pardon turkeys in a light-hearted ceremony as a way to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president for the last time.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his role as commander in chief. He mentioned that over 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 contribution to society. The event also signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and it was his last time speaking as president during this time. He expressed his gratitude and said it has been the honor of his life.
Written by Zach Montague
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On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude for the country.
During the 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 state.
The president gave a speech next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing the audience to laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated the president.
"Mr. Biden shared with spectators on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto ‘keep calm and gobble on.’ He was wearing his characteristic aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he had spared from Thanksgiving dinner over the course of four years."
The president’s demeanor became more serious as he recognized that the holiday season signified 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 time addressing you all as your president during this time, to express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to take this opportunity to say that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am eternally grateful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday celebration with friends, this time 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, including his son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take this opportunity to pause from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration in two months hinted at significant changes to the usual norms and traditions that President Biden often praised. At the ceremony, he left attendees with a straightforward and non-partisan message while avoiding the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s capital.
He stated that in America, we always persevere and hold onto hope, never giving up on our goals and beliefs.
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. To learn more about Zach Montague, visit his profile on the Times
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