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Every year, the US President ceremoniously rescues one or more birds in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
First Lady Melania Trump looks on as US President Donald Trump pardons Goble, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys. (AFP photo)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a ceremonial pardon to two turkeys before Thanksgiving, continuing a long-standing White House tradition.
The birds, named Waddle and Gobble, were rescued from the dinner table and will instead enjoy a comfortable life after their short stay at a luxury hotel.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn, Trump began by wishing all Americans a “very happy Thanksgiving” and praised the country’s economic performance. “It’s a great time of year, and our country is doing well economically, like we’ve never done before,” he said.
He named the day “Pardon of a Very Important Beast Day” and introduced the turkeys as “Handsome Thanksgiving Turkeys” whose lives would officially be spared.
The US President also took the opportunity to criticize the pardon decisions issued last year under former US President Joe Biden, describing them as “completely invalid” due to the use of an automatic pen.
“There was a terrible situation caused by a man named Sleepy Joe Biden, who last year used an automatic pen to get a pardon for the turkeys,” Trump said. “I have decided that last year’s turkey pardon is entirely invalid, as are the pardons for everyone else except one person – Hunter’s pardon was valid. The rest are all invalid.”
The Peach and Blossom turkeys from last year, Trump said, were going to be processed. The US President added: “In other words, to be killed. But I stopped that flight, and I officially pardon them. They will not be served Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them just in time.”
The tradition of pardoning turkeys dates back to former US President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, when historians say he saved a turkey after his son befriended it. Every year, the US President ceremoniously roasts one or more birds in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, a holiday in which a roasted turkey is usually the centerpiece of the meal.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break down and analyze the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explanations, the office offers…Read more
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break down and analyze the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explanations, the office offers… Read more
United States of America (United States of America)
25 November 2025, 11:23 PM IST
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