President Donald Trump is preparing to pardon turkeys named ‘Waddle’ and ‘Gobble’ as Thanksgiving week approaches, a tradition that has become an annual White House event. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt introduced ‘Waddle’ to reporters in the briefing room, where he faced questions from journalists about his qualifications for pardon. The National Turkey Federation (NTF) confirmed that Waddle weighs over 50 pounds, highlighting the significance of the event. After the pardons, the turkeys will be sent to North Carolina State University as ‘Turkey ambassadors’ to promote the industry. This follows the arrival of the official White House Christmas tree, which is set to be displayed in the Blue Room. The tree, sourced from Michigan’s Korson’s Tree Farms, was selected through the National Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest, marking the start of the holiday season at the White House.
First Lady Melania Trump played a role in the selection process, hosting a poll on X (formerly Twitter) to name the year’s turkeys, which resulted in Waddle and Gobble. This tradition has seen various regions contributing their turkeys to the White House, with previous years’ pardons including ‘Peach’ and ‘Blossom’ from Minnesota, and others from states such as North Carolina, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, Ohio, California, Virginia, and Missouri. The annual Christmas tree selection process, which is a significant event in the White House calendar, is now under way, with the tree from Korson’s Tree Farms set to be presented by the farm owners, Rex and Jessica Korson, who also plan to supply a smaller tree for the Oval Office.
Despite the festive nature of the events, the White House continues to focus on other responsibilities, including the ongoing Thanksgiving travel rush at airports nationwide. The trucking industry has also been involved in transporting the Christmas tree, with an American trucker expressing pride in transporting the tree 3,000 miles from Michigan to Washington, D.C. The pardoning of turkeys, while a symbolic act, is part of the broader tradition of American holiday rituals, maintaining a sense of continuity and public engagement with the White House. As these traditions unfold, they provide a moment of light-heartedness amid the nation’s political landscape.