President Donald Trump upheld the longstanding Thanksgiving tradition by pardoning two turkeys, named Gobble and Waddle, during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. This annual event, which dates back to the 1940s, involves the National Turkey Federation presenting a live turkey to the president for Thanksgiving. While President John F. Kennedy is often credited with the first turkey pardon in 1963, the tradition was codified during George H.W. Bush’s presidency when the term ‘pardon’ was officially adopted.
During the ceremony, Trump also made a pointed remark about former President Joe Biden, joking that Biden’s use of the autopen for pardoning turkeys in 2024 rendered those pardons ‘totally invalid’ and claimed to have ‘saved them in the nick of time.’ The pardoned turkeys will be sent to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science. This tradition, which has become a staple of American presidential history, reflects the blend of humor and ceremony that characterizes the White House’s approach to public events.
Historically, the turkey pardoning ceremony has served as a lighthearted moment amid the more solemn aspects of the presidential calendar. However, it has also taken on symbolic significance, with each administration using the occasion to reflect on national values or to make political statements. Trump’s comment about Biden’s pardons, while seemingly irreverent, underscores the way in which even traditional customs can become arenas for political expression.