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President Biden pardoned turkeys for the final time in his term, using the light-hearted event as a way to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, continuing a tradition of granting clemency to the birds. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief and mentioned past turkeys that had been pardoned. The turkeys, named Peach and Blossom, were pardoned based on their temperament and potential to be productive members of society. Biden acknowledged that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and reflected on his time as president, expressing thanks and gratitude to the American people.
Written by Zach Montague.
Writing from the capital
On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude to the nation in a brief reflection.
The brief speech, containing only a few jokes and humorous remarks, honored Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after the peach blossoms that are the official flower of Delaware, the state where Mr. Biden is from.
The president stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling could be heard over the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at the last minute," he stated.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of staying calm and enjoying food. He was wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.
The president shifted to a more solemn tone to recognize the emotional truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service, which has spanned over five decades.
"This is the final time I will address you as your president during this time, and express my appreciation and thanks," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey 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 at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, they celebrated with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During the 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 expressed the importance of taking a break from our hectic schedules to concentrate on our loved ones, our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at changes to the norms and traditions often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden left those at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, people always persevere and never quit. They continue to move forward and maintain their belief in success.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The New York Times who reports on news related to 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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