How the White House turkey pardon became an American tradition
In a delightful display of holiday spirit and a cherished presidential tradition, former President Donald Trump pardoned two turkeys, named Gobble and Waddle, in a ceremony held at the White House’s Rose Garden. This annual event, which has been a staple of American Thanksgiving celebrations for over 35 years, dates back to the 1940s when the National Turkey Federation began presenting a live turkey to the sitting president. While the origins of the turkey pardon are somewhat murky, President John F. Kennedy is often credited with the first official pardon in 1963, when he famously stated that he would “let this one grow.” Although he did not use the term “pardon,” the media reported it as such, marking the beginning of a light-hearted tradition that has since evolved into a beloved part of the Thanksgiving festivities.
The tradition was solidified during George H.W. Bush’s presidency in 1989 when he explicitly used the word “pardon,” ensuring that the turkey would not end up as Thanksgiving dinner but instead live out its days on a farm. This year, Gobble and Waddle, weighing in at 50 and 52 pounds respectively, traveled from North Carolina to participate in the event. Following the ceremony, the turkeys are set to relocate to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science, where they will continue to live peacefully. Trump, during the ceremony, also took the opportunity to make a political jab at current President Joe Biden, humorously suggesting that Biden’s pardons for the 2024 turkeys were “totally invalid” because they were executed using an autopen. In a playful twist, Trump claimed he had preemptively pardoned those turkeys as well, asserting that he “saved them in the nick of time.”
The Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning ceremony not only highlights a whimsical aspect of presidential duties but also serves as a reminder of the lighter side of American politics. Each year, the event draws attention not only for its heartwarming premise but also for the humorous remarks and political banter that often accompany it. As the nation gears up for Thanksgiving, the pardoning of Gobble and Waddle adds a festive touch to the holiday, encapsulating the spirit of gratitude and the joy of traditions that bring people together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdRgpiWR7fY
President
Donald Trump
pardoned two turkeys Tuesday — Gobble and Waddle — as part of an
annual tradition
that has occurred at the White House for more than 35 years.Â
The
Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning
is a ceremony originating from the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation dating back to the 1940s, when the National Turkey Federation would present the president with a live turkey for Thanksgiving.Â
President John F. Kennedy
is often credited with pardoning the first turkey in 1963, when he said that he would “let this one grow.” Although Kennedy didn’t use the word “pardon,” the L.A. Times reported on the matter with the headline, “Turkey gets presidential pardon,” according to an NBC News archive.Â
President Ronald Reagan
also made a joke about pardoning that year’s turkey, Charlie, in response to a question from a reporter, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum.
TRUMP JOKES THAT BIDEN TURKEY PARDON IN 2024 ‘INVALID’ DUE TO AUTOPENÂ
“If they’d given me a different answer on Charlie and his future, I would have
pardoned him
,” Reagan said in 1987.Â
However, the tradition was codified during
George H.W. Bush’s administration
, according to the White House Historical Association. Bush used the word pardon, and the tradition continued each year afterward.Â
“But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy — he’s presented a presidential pardon as of right now — and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here,” Bush said in 1989.Â
Gobble and Waddle clocked in at 50 pounds and 52 pounds each, and traveled from North Carolina to the Washington’s Willard InterContinental Hotel for the annual tradition. Following the pardoning, they will head to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science.
During the ceremony in the Rose Garden, Trump also took aim at former President
Joe Biden
, and said Biden used the autopen to pardon the 2024 turkeys, and as a result those pardons were “totally invalid.”Â
As a result, Trump quipped that he had pardoned those turkeys too, and said he “saved them in the nick of time.”
