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President Biden participated in the annual tradition of pardoning turkeys before Thanksgiving for the final time during his presidency. Putting political differences aside, he used the playful 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 White House ceremony, expressing thanks for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that this year, Peach and Blossom would be pardoned based on their good behavior. Biden also acknowledged that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Updating from the capital
On Monday, President Biden made a brief appearance to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude for the country.
The brief speech, containing only a few jokes and humorous remarks, honored Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises could be heard over the microphone. This caused interruptions in Mr. Biden’s speech and made the audience laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated the president.
Mr. Biden, wearing his signature aviators, told the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he lives by the motto "keep calm and gobble on." He also listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his time in office.
The president changed his demeanor to a more serious one to recognize the emotional truth that the holidays signaled the final phase of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This is my final speech as your president during this time, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," mentioned Mr. Biden. "I want to let you know, it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue a 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, specifically mentioning his son Beau, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we seize this opportunity to pause our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration suggests a change in longstanding norms and traditions that President Biden valued. At the ceremony, President Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and maintain hope, never giving up no matter what challenges we face.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the 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.
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