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President Biden Pardons Last Turkeys of His Presidency in Lighthearted Ceremony

In Citizen
November 29, 2024

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As his presidency comes to a close, Biden pardoned two turkeys in a festive event. Regardless of political views, the president expressed gratitude to the country for allowing him to serve.

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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in the annual White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would also be pardoned. He noted that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed thanks for his time as president. Biden ended by saying it had been the honor of his life and he was forever grateful.

Written by Zach Montague

Writing from the capital

On Monday, President Biden made an appearance to grant pardons to two Thanksgiving turkeys. He acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the country. The event lasted for eight minutes.

During the brief speech, only a few jokes and witty remarks were made to acknowledge Peach and Blossom, two birds weighing over 40 pounds each, named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which is the official flower of the state where Mr. Biden is from.

The president stood next to Peach, a turkey whose loud noises could be heard on 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 this moment," the statement read.

While standing on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with onlookers that his motto is to "stay calm and keep eating." He was wearing his signature aviator sunglasses and listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.

The president shifted to a more solemn demeanor to recognize the emotional truth that the holidays signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially his retirement from public service after over 50 years.

"This will be the final time I address you as your president during this time, and express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to express that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am eternally thankful."

On Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering with friends, this time with members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this event, President Biden honored those who have lost loved ones, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

He suggested that we should take advantage of this moment to pause our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.

Before taking photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at potential changes to the norms and traditions that President Biden cherished. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, President Biden concluded the ceremony with a straightforward and non-partisan message for attendees.

He expressed that in America, we always persevere and never give up. We continue to have hope and keep moving forward.

Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who reports on topics such as the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click here.

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