President Donald Trump humorously declared former President Joe Biden’s turkey pardons from last year ‘null and void’ due to the use of an autopen, a device that does not provide a handwritten signature. Trump pardoned two turkeys, ‘Gobble’ and ‘Waddle,’ while making the joke, claiming he saved the previously pardoned turkeys from being processed. The tradition, which has been ongoing for decades, continued with this year’s pardons, with the turkeys being the heaviest on record.
Trump’s comment was met with laughter from the crowd as he emphasized the ‘thorough and very rigorous investigation’ by multiple legal offices that concluded the pardons were invalid. The turkeys, named ‘Peach’ and ‘Blossom,’ were said to be on their way to be processed but were stopped by Trump. This year’s turkeys, ‘Waddle’ and ‘Gobble,’ are the largest ever to receive a presidential pardon, weighing over 50 pounds each. A National Turkey Federation spokeswoman told reporters at the White House that after Waddle and Gobble are pardoned, they will move to North Carolina State University, where they will serve as ‘Turkey ambassadors for our industry.’
First lady Melania Trump held a poll on X to name this year’s turkeys, resulting in Waddle and Gobble. Last year’s pardoned turkeys, the aforementioned Peach and Blossom, and the ones before them, ‘Liberty’ and ‘Bell,’ all came from Minnesota. North Carolina, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, Ohio, California, Virginia, and Missouri have all sent turkeys to the White House, showcasing the continued tradition of presidential pardons as a national event.
This year’s pardons, while humorous in nature, highlight the ongoing cultural significance of the Thanksgiving tradition. Despite the joke about the validity of previous pardons, the event remains a staple of the holiday season, drawing public attention and media coverage. While the pardons themselves do not have direct financial implications, the event underscores the symbolic role of the presidency in American culture, where even light-hearted moments can gain widespread public interest.