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President Biden, in a light-hearted ceremony, pardoned turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Regardless of political beliefs, he took the opportunity to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys during the annual White House ceremony, expressing thanks for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned that in the past four years, he has pardoned other turkeys such as Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell. This year, Peach and Blossom were pardoned based on their behavior and contribution to society. President Biden also mentioned that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
On Monday, President Biden made an appearance that lasted eight minutes to officially pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys. He briefly acknowledged the 77-year-old tradition and took a moment to express gratitude to the country.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and humorous comments were made, acknowledging two large birds named Peach and Blossom after Delaware’s official flower, the peach blossom, which also happens to be the state flower of President Biden’s home state.
The president gave a speech next to Peach, whose loud noises were heard through the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing laughter from the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request," stated the president.
"He follows the motto ‘stay calm and continue eating,’" Mr. Biden said to the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House, wearing his characteristic aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he spared from Thanksgiving dinners during his four years in office.
The president’s demeanor became more serious as he recognized the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency and potentially his time in public service, which has spanned over five decades.
"This will be the final time I speak as your president during this time, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to tell you that serving as your president has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."
On Monday, the president and 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 took a moment to honor those who have experienced the loss of a family member, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we take advantage of this moment to step away from our hectic schedules and prioritize our families.
Before posing for photos with Peach, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s upcoming inauguration in two months hinted at a potential change in the norms and traditions often celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, Mr. Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, we always persevere and remain determined. We continue moving forward and staying hopeful.
Zach Montague is a journalist from the Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. You can find out more about Zach Montague by visiting his profile.
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