Donald Trump Revives Turkey Pardon Tradition — and Jokes Biden’s Pardons Were “Invalid”
Former President Donald Trump brought humor, theatrics, and a few jabs at Joe Biden to the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation at the White House Rose Garden, where he joked that two previously pardoned birds had been “saved from the chopping block” thanks to him.
Arriving hand in hand with First Lady Melania Trump, the pair smiled to the crowd as a loudly gobbling turkey provided a noisy soundtrack in the background. Trump opened the ceremony by thanking attendees and praising the newly renovated patio, joking that without it, “you’d be sinking into the mud like they have for many years.”
Then came the punchline: Trump revived the controversy over Biden’s past use of an autopen, claiming it rendered last year’s turkey pardons invalid.
He reminded the crowd that he had once declared all of Biden’s pardons “void and vacant” because they were allegedly signed mechanically. “Officials looked into a terrible situation caused by Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump said. “He used an autopen last year for the turkey’s pardon. So I have determined that last year’s Turkey Pardons are totally invalid.”
Laughter rippled through the Rose Garden as Trump delivered more jokes, even pausing when nearby turkeys interrupted him. “That’s a well-trained turkey,” he laughed.
According to Trump, last year’s turkeys—Peach and Blossom—had been found “on their way to be processed,” but he claimed he had stepped in at the last moment. “I’ve stopped that journey and I am officially pardoning them. They will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them in the nick of time.”
Turning to this year’s stars, Trump revealed that the two new turkeys awaiting pardons were named Gobble and Waddle. “These are two of the largest turkeys ever presented to an American president,” he said, noting that each weighed more than 50 pounds after eating “every fattening food possible” to prepare for their big moment
Trump couldn’t resist teasing the farmer who raised them, asking whether the birds were “violent” or likely to attack. “Otherwise I’ll stay up here,” he joked as the audience laughed.
Before concluding, Trump wished Americans a very happy Thanksgiving and said the country was “doing very well economically.”
With a grin, he added: “Today is a big day — it’s Pardon Day — for some very important birds.”
