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President Biden granted clemency to turkeys as a tradition one final time before leaving office. Putting politics aside, he expressed gratitude to the country during the light-hearted event for the chance to serve as president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a White House ceremony, expressing his gratitude for serving as commander in chief. He mentioned that over the past four years, he has pardoned several turkeys, including Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate and Chip, Liberty and Bell. This year, he pardoned Peach and Blossom based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. Biden also noted that this event signals the start of the holiday season in Washington and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as president.
Written by Zach Montague
Reporting live from the
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the long-standing 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two 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 noises were captured by 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 the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd at the White House that he follows the motto "keep calm and gobble on," as he listed off the names of the turkeys he pardoned during his time as president. He was wearing his iconic aviator sunglasses while speaking.
The president’s demeanor changed to a more somber one as he recognized the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency and potentially the end of his career in public service spanning 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 express that serving as president has been the greatest honor of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue a tradition of serving food at a holiday gathering, 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 that we take 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 significant changes to the norms and traditions often praised by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in Washington, Mr. Biden delivered a straightforward and non-political message to attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed the sentiment that in America, people always persevere and maintain hope, no matter the circumstances. The message is to continue to push forward and stay positive.
Zach Montague is a journalist for the Times who reports on the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. For additional information about Zach Montague, click here.
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