President Trump Keeps Thanksgiving Tradition Alive, Offers Lighthearted Remarks
Washington, D.C. – In a time-honored tradition, President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, participated in the annual White House National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation ceremony. This year, two fortunate turkeys, named “Gobble” and “Waddle,” received a presidential pardon, saving them from becoming Thanksgiving dinner.
The custom of presenting a live turkey to the President dates back to the 1940s. While occasional acts of sparing turkeys occurred informally, it was under President George H.W. Bush in 1989 that the modern, highly publicized pardon ceremony became a standard White House event.
Each year, one turkey is designated as the official “National Thanksgiving Turkey” and is the centerpiece of the Rose Garden ceremony, where it receives the formal pardon. A second turkey, sometimes referred to as the “vice turkey,” is raised alongside the primary bird as a backup.
This year’s lucky turkeys, selected from a flock of over 19,000 raised by a North Carolina grower, have been given a new home at North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science. There, they will receive specialized care and contribute to educational outreach programs.
Both turkeys received pardons, though only one participated in the official ceremony. Prior to the event, the two white-feathered birds were introduced to the White House press briefing room by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and her son.
Before granting the pardon, President Trump addressed the audience for approximately 20 minutes, sharing jokes and highlighting the accomplishments of his administration since returning to office.
The President couldn’t resist injecting some humor into the proceedings, joking that last year’s turkey pardons were “totally invalid,” implying that former President Biden may have used an autopen for his pardons. He also mentioned that he had located last year’s pardoned turkeys, “Peach” and “Blossom,” just in time to stop them from being processed.
He then suggested he considered naming this year’s turkeys Chuck and Nancy, after Democrat leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. He quickly added that he could never pardon those two.
President Trump further stated that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had certified the birds as the first “MAHA turkeys,” referencing Kennedy’s slogan “Make America Healthy Again.”
The President also touched upon his administration’s commitment to border security, highlighting the dramatic decrease in illegal border crossings in recent months.
He also expressed optimism about resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict sooner than anticipated.
President Trump concluded the ceremony by thanking the First Lady for her support before officially pardoning Gobble. The event served as a lighthearted reminder of American traditions and values during the Thanksgiving season.
