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President Biden decided to pardon turkeys for the final time during his presidency. Despite the political context, he took the opportunity during the light-hearted ceremony to express his gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as their president.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional 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 be pardoned based on their good behavior. Biden noted that the event marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and reflected on his time as president, expressing gratitude to the American people. He concluded by saying it had been an honor and he was forever grateful.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the capital
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, continuing a 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude to the nation.
During the brief speech, only a few jokes and humorous remarks were made to honor Peach and Blossom, two large 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 loud noises were captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden and causing the audience to laugh.
The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at the last minute.
Mr. Biden shared with the crowd on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of staying calm and enjoying life. He was wearing his usual aviator sunglasses as he 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 signified the nearing conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the conclusion of his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be my final address as your president during this time of year, where I express my appreciation and thanks," stated Mr. Biden. "I want to express that serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady were planning to continue a tradition by serving food at a holiday celebration 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 family members, including his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we 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 changes to the norms and traditions that Mr. Biden cherished as president. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, he shared a straightforward and non-political message with the attendees at the ceremony.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key and we always push forward with determination and belief.
Zach Montague is a journalist for The Times who focuses on reporting about the U.S. Department of Education, the White House, and federal courts. To learn more about Zach Montague, click here.
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