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Biden pardons turkeys as his final act as president, using the light-hearted event to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, continuing the tradition of granting clemency to the birds. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as commander in chief and mentioned previous turkeys he had pardoned during his presidency. This year, he pardoned Peach and Blossom based on their behavior and potential to contribute positively to society. He also noted that the event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed thanks to the American people for their support during his presidency. Biden concluded by saying it has been the honor of his life to serve as president and that he is forever grateful.
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 to the nation in a brief reflection.
During the brief speech, a few jokes were made to honor 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 home state.
The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
The president stated that Peach was making a final request at the last moment.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd at the White House’s South Lawn that his motto is to stay calm and keep eating. He was wearing his characteristic aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had granted clemency to during his time in office.
The president changed his tone to a more serious one to recognize the emotional reality that the holiday season signified the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the end of his career in public service, which had spanned over five decades.
"This will be my final speech as your president during this time, where I express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to convey to you all that 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 their own by serving food at a holiday celebration with friends, this time with Coast Guard members 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 late son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested taking a break from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families during this moment.
Ignoring the unknowns surrounding Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration hinted at potential changes to long-standing norms and traditions that President Biden had previously praised. Before taking photos with Peach, he shared a straightforward and non-political message with those present at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, there is a strong belief in never giving up and persevering through challenges. The message conveyed was to continue moving forward and maintaining faith in difficult times.
Zach Montague is a journalist at The Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To find out more about Zach Montague, visit his profile on the website.
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