The annual White House turkey pardon, typically a predictable ritual of presidential levity, descended into unexpected chaos this year, blending political barbs, a missing bird, and former President Donald Trump's signature humour in a spectacle that captivated observers.
A Tradition Upended: From Pardons to Politics
Marking the 78th edition of the tradition spanning 15 administrations, the ceremony was anything but ordinary. As he stood to pardon the two lucky turkeys named Gobble and Waddle, Trump immediately took a swipe at current President Joe Biden. He provocatively claimed that last year’s Thanksgiving pardon was invalid because Biden had "used an autopen."
With his characteristic timing, Trump then joked that the 2024 turkeys, Peach and Blossom, were en route to be processed. "But I have stopped that journey and I am officially pardoning them and they will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner," he declared to the crowd in the Rose Garden.
Familiar Foes and a Missing Bird
The political theatrics did not stop there. Trump revealed his initial plans for the turkeys' names, stating, "When I first saw their pictures… I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people," a clear dig at political rivals Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker became the next target. While discussing National Guard deployment, Trump complained about restrictions in Chicago, telling the Governor, "let’s get your act together," and labelling him a "big fat slob." He then added, "I refuse to talk about the fact that he’s a fat slob. I don’t mention it," before quipping that he himself would like to lose a few pounds.
Amid the political firestorm, a more literal chaos unfolded. One of the stars of the event, the turkey named Waddle, was nowhere to be found. Unfazed, Trump told the audience, "Waddle, by the way, is missing in action, but that’s OK. We’ll pretend Waddle is here."
The Roots of the Ritual
This year's turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, were raised in North Carolina by Travis Pittman and presented under the guidance of National Turkey Federation chairman and Butterball CEO Jay Jandrain. Their names were chosen through an online poll shared on the First Lady’s social media pages.
The origins of this act of presidential mercy are often traced back to the Civil War era, when President Abraham Lincoln spared a turkey named Jack at the request of his son, Tad. However, the modern, official White House turkey pardon tradition only began in 1989. What is designed as a simple, light-hearted ceremony proved, this year, to be a stage for much more than just pardoning poultry.
