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Biden, in his final act as President, pardoned two turkeys in a light-hearted ceremony, taking the opportunity to express gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as President.
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President Biden pardoned two turkeys in a traditional ceremony at the White House, expressing thanks for the opportunity to serve as the country’s leader. He mentioned past turkeys he had pardoned and announced that this year, Peach and Blossom would be pardoned. He also noted that this event marks the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and expressed gratitude for his time as president.
Authored by Zach Montague
Writing from the nation
President Biden made a brief appearance on Monday to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys, acknowledging the 77-year-old tradition and taking a moment to express gratitude for the country.
The brief speech, containing only a few humorous 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 stood next to Peach, whose loud gobbling was captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter among the audience.
"The president mentioned that Peach is making a plea at the last minute," stated the president.
Mr. Biden shared with spectators on the South Lawn of the White House that he follows the motto of "keep calm and gobble on." He was wearing his usual aviator sunglasses as he listed the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.
The president shifted to a more somber demeanor to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency and potentially his long career in public service spanning over five decades.
"This will be the final time I address you as your president in this period and express my thanks and appreciation," Mr. Biden stated. "I want to say that it has been the greatest privilege of my life. I am eternally thankful."
On Monday, the president and first lady planned to continue their tradition of serving food to friends celebrating the holiday together. This year, they did so 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, specifically mentioning his son Beau who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.
He suggested that we should take advantage of this moment to pause from 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 celebrated by Mr. Biden during his presidency. Despite the uncertainty in the nation’s capital, Mr. Biden left those at the ceremony with a straightforward and non-political message.
He expressed that in America, perseverance is key. The belief is to always continue moving forward and to maintain hope.
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, click here.
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