Prom
Backed by
Biden decided to spare turkeys from being slaughtered for the last time during his presidency. Regardless of political views, the president took the chance during the light-hearted event to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.
written record of
President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing thanks for his role 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 mentioned that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and thanked the audience for their support during his presidency. He expressed gratitude for being able to serve as president and stated that it has been an honor for him.
Authored by Zach Montague
Covering news from
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition that is 77 years old and taking a moment to express gratitude for the country.
The short speech, which contained a few jokes and witty remarks, acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each, who were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, the official flower of President Biden’s state.
The president was speaking next to Peach, whose loud noises were heard through the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and making the audience laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute," was what was said.
While on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with the crowd his motto of staying calm and enjoying the moment. He also talked about the turkeys he spared from Thanksgiving dinner during his time in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president adopted a more somber demeanor 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 spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final time addressing you all as your president for this term, and I want to express my appreciation and thankfulness," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be grateful."
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 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 a break from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families during this moment.
As President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration approaches in two months, there is uncertainty in the nation’s capital. This uncertainty hints at a potential disruption of the norms and traditions that President Biden often cherished. Despite this, he shared a simple and non-partisan message with attendees at the ceremony before taking photos with Peach.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and remain determined. We continue to move forward and hold onto our beliefs.
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 on The Times website.
Prom
Index of pages on the website
Navigation to access