In a lighthearted yet poignant Thanksgiving tradition, President Joe Biden, 82, hosted his final turkey pardon ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, sparing turkeys Peach and Blossom from the dinner table.
Biden joked that Peach’s motto was “keep calm and gobble on,” while Blossom preferred “no fowl play.” The turkeys, raised on a Minnesota farm, “stayed calm and gobbled on” throughout their journey to Washington, he added.
While the ceremony was filled with humor, Biden struck a reflective tone as he acknowledged it was his last Thanksgiving as president. “Let me say to you, it’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” said Biden, who dropped out of the election in July after a difficult debate performance against Donald Trump.
Trump, who won the November election, is set to dismantle many of Biden’s policies, including plans for mass deportations, restructuring of the federal bureaucracy, and imposing significant tariffs on imports. Biden assured a smooth transition, contrasting it with Trump’s refusal to attend Biden’s 2021 inauguration. The outgoing president and First Lady Jill Biden have confirmed their attendance at Trump’s swearing-in on January 20.
As his term winds down, Biden will turn his attention to presidential pardons for individuals. During the ceremony, he joked, “They tell me there are 2,500 people here today… looking for a pardon.” However, Biden reiterated that he would not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, who faces charges of lying on a gun purchase form and tax evasion.
Hunter Biden, who attended the event with his young son Beau, awaits sentencing in both cases. The White House declined to comment further on possible clemency for him.
