Biden pardons Thanksgiving turkeys at White House for last time as president
President Biden carried out the annual tradition of pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkeys “Peach” and “Blossom” on the South Lawn of the White House this week. This was Biden’s final time participating in this tradition during his time in office. He expressed his gratitude to John Zimmerman, chair of the National Turkey Federation, as well as Zimmerman’s son Grant for their involvement in the event.
The tradition of pardoning turkeys for Thanksgiving dates back to the 1940s when the national turkey lobby first presented a turkey to President Truman. President George H.W. Bush then initiated the annual tradition of pardoning turkeys, a tradition that has continued to this day. Zimmerman, who has raised over 4 million turkeys in his 35-year career, was recognized by Biden during the ceremony.
Over the past four years, Biden has pardoned several pairs of national Thanksgiving turkeys, including “Peanut Butter” and “Jelly,” “Chocolate” and “Chip,” and “Liberty” and “Bell.”
During his remarks, Biden mentioned Zimmerman’s family roots in Northfield, Minnesota, a place he and Agriculture Secretary Tim Vilsack visited last year to discuss rural America. Vice President Harris, who was notably absent from the ceremony, has reportedly been keeping a low profile following her defeat by President-elect Trump.
Biden also took the opportunity to express his gratitude for his time in office. He mentioned that the event marked the official beginning of the holiday season in Washington and shared that he and his wife, Jill, would be spending Thanksgiving with members of the Coast Guard in Staten Island, New York, to show appreciation for their service.
As Biden reflected on his term in office, he emphasized the importance of family and unity. He encouraged Americans to focus on what matters most during the holiday season and to remember the resilience and strength of the United States. He concluded his remarks by wishing Americans a happy Thanksgiving and calling for blessings on the nation’s troops.
The event was a reminder of the longstanding tradition of pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House and served as a moment of reflection and unity for the nation. Biden’s participation in this tradition for the last time as president was a poignant moment as he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the country.
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