Trump Pardons Turkeys at White House

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump pardoned two turkeys at the White House, playfully claiming that last year’s pardon was “null and void” because former President Joe Biden used an autopen. This quirky moment is part of a longstanding Thanksgiving tradition.

During the ceremony, Trump joked about saving last year’s turkeys, Peach and Blossom, from being processed after Biden had seemingly revoked his pardon. “I wanted to make an important announcement,” he said. “After a thorough investigation, I’ve determined that last year’s turkey pardon is completely invalid.” He emphasized that last year’s turkeys were almost on their way to being served for dinner but, thankfully, were saved just in time.

This year’s turkeys, named Gobbles and Waddles, were touted as the largest ever pardoned, each weighing over 50 pounds. Trump humorously referred to them as some of the heaviest birds to receive such an honor.

A spokesperson from the National Turkey Federation shared that after the pardoning, Waddles and Gobbles would move on to North Carolina State University. There, they’ll serve as ambassadors for the turkey industry, which sounds, well, quite fitting.

Interestingly, First Lady Melania Trump held a vote on social media to decide the names for this year’s turkeys, resulting in the names Waddle and Gobble. It’s a small touch of personalization that brightens the tradition.

As the holiday approaches, states like North Carolina, Indiana, Iowa, South Dakota, Ohio, California, Virginia, and Missouri are all sending their turkeys to the White House for the annual event. It seems like the holiday travel rush is kicking in, and this year’s festivities are set to be memorable.