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President Biden Pardons Turkeys for the Last Time with Gratitude and Tradition

In Citizen
November 29, 2024

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President Biden participated in his final turkey pardoning ceremony before leaving office. Putting politics aside, he expressed gratitude to the nation for allowing him to serve as president.

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Biden pardoned the final turkeys of his presidency in a traditional White House ceremony, expressing gratitude for his time as commander in chief. He mentioned previous turkeys he had pardoned and announced that Peach and Blossom would now be joining them as free birds of the United States. The event also marked the beginning of the holiday season in Washington and was Biden’s last speech as president during this time, where he expressed his gratitude and said it had been the greatest honor of his life.

Written by Zach Montague

Reporting from the nation

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 a brief speech, a few jokes and witty remarks were shared to honor Peach and Blossom, two large birds weighing over 40 pounds each. These birds were named after Delaware’s peach blossoms, which are the official flower of President Biden’s home state.

The president addressed the crowd next to Peach, whose loud noises were captured by the microphone, often interrupting Mr. Biden’s speech and causing laughter from the audience.

"The president mentioned that Peach is making a final request at this moment," stated the president.

While standing on the South Lawn of the White House, Mr. Biden shared with the audience his motto of "keep calm and gobble on." He wore his distinctive aviator sunglasses as he listed off the names of the turkeys he had pardoned during his four years in office.

The president adopted a more solemn attitude to recognize the bittersweet truth that the holiday season signaled the conclusion of his presidency, and potentially the end of his career in public service that spanned over five decades.

"This is the last time I will be speaking as your president during this time, and I want to express my thanks and appreciation," stated Mr. Biden. He said, "I want to tell you that it has been the greatest honor of my life. I will always be thankful."

Later in the day on Monday, the president and the first lady planned to continue a tradition of theirs by serving food at a holiday gathering with friends. This year, the event was held for members of the Coast Guard and their families on Staten Island. During this time, 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 using 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 Washington, Mr. Biden left attendees at the ceremony with a straightforward and nonpartisan message.

He mentioned that in America, we always persevere and have hope no matter what challenges we face.

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, visit his profile on The Times website.

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