In a light-hearted prelude to the Thanksgiving holiday, President Donald Trump upheld a cherished White House tradition on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by granting a presidential pardon to two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle.
A Ceremony Filled with Humour and History
The festive ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden, with First Lady Melania Trump in attendance. The two birds, which had been raised in North Carolina, were treated as VIPs ahead of their big moment, even enjoying luxury hotel accommodations upon their arrival in Washington.
President Trump kicked off the event with his characteristic wit. He revealed, "The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names Gobble and Waddle. 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."
Life After the Pardon: A Feathered Retirement
So, where do pardoned turkeys go? Following the high-profile ceremony, Gobble and Waddle were transported to the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. There, they will live out their days in dedicated housing, receiving daily care and veterinary support for the remainder of their lives, a far cry from the fate of most turkeys in November.
The Legacy of the Presidential Turkey Pardon
While the act of sparing a turkey has been observed for decades, the tradition was formally recognised in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush. It was Bush who famously declared that the bird would not end up on anyone's dinner table and granted it an official pardon. Since that proclamation, a total of 60 turkeys have received this presidential clemency.
Adding a modern and democratic twist to the custom, the public gets to choose the turkeys' names each year through an online poll. For 2025, the names Gobble and Waddle were selected via a poll shared by the Office of the First Lady on social media, ensuring the nation had a direct hand in the ceremony.
