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President Biden participated in his final turkey pardoning ceremony, using the event as a way to express gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve as president. Despite the political context, the ceremony had a more light-hearted tone.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a ceremony at the White House, expressing thanks for his time as president. He mentioned past turkeys he pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would also be pardoned. He noted that the event marked the start of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
On Monday, President Biden took eight minutes to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing 77-year-old tradition and expressing gratitude to the country.
The short speech, containing only a few jokes and witty remarks, acknowledged 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 was speaking next to Peach, a turkey whose noises were heard on the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and making the audience laugh.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," commented the president.
Mr. Biden shared with the audience on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of "keep calm and gobble on," as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his four years in office, all while wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses.
The president changed his tone to a more serious one to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holidays signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the end 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," stated Mr. Biden. "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, including 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.
Despite the uncertainty in Washington D.C., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration suggests a potential shift away from the norms and traditions that President Biden supported. At the ceremony, President Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message to attendees before taking photos with Peach.
He stated that in America, we always persevere and have faith, 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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