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In one of his final acts as president, Biden granted clemency to two turkeys as part of a traditional ceremony. Despite the political context, the president took the opportunity to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as the country’s leader. He mentioned previous turkeys he had pardoned in the past and announced that Peach and Blossom would be the latest turkeys to be pardoned. This event also signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and it was Biden’s final time speaking as president during this time. He thanked the audience for the opportunity to serve as president and expressed his eternal gratitude.
Written by Zach Montague
Reporting from the nation
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
The brief speech acknowledged Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state. The speech included only a few jokes and witty remarks.
The president gave a speech next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often drowning out Mr. Biden’s speech and causing the audience to laugh.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at the last minute.
Mr. Biden, wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses, shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of staying calm and enjoying good food. He also listed the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office.
The president adopted a more somber attitude to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his time as president, and potentially the conclusion of his career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be the last time I speak as your president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to tell you 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 a tradition by serving food at a holiday celebration 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, specifically remembering his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He expressed the importance of taking a break from our hectic schedules to prioritize our families.
Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at possible changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden often praised. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, President Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed the sentiment that Americans always persevere and never lose hope, no matter the circumstances.
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, please visit his profile.
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