It is a North American tradition for the President of the United States to grant a symbolic pardon to one or two turkeys on the eve of Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday (11/27). This is a relaxing moment that begins the National Day celebrations.
But this year, President Donald Trump used the occasion to send direct messages to some of his political opponents.
On Wednesday (11/26), in front of Goble and Waddle, the two pardoned white turkeys in the White House Rose Garden, Trump attacked former President Joe Biden for the first time. He joked that the pardon that Biden granted to the turkeys during his presidency was not valid, as it came as a result of a “stroke of the pen.”
The speech was a direct reference to Biden’s pardon for his son, Hunter, who was accused of illegal gun possession and tax evasion, shortly before leaving office as president of that country.
Trump said: “After a very thorough and rigorous investigation into the terrible situation caused by a man named Sleepy Joe Biden, who used a ‘pen’ last year to pardon the turkeys (…) I have a solemn duty to determine, and I have determined, that the pardon granted last year to the turkeys is completely invalid.” “Just like everyone else who was pardoned, except… where’s Hunter?” Trump continued.
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Trump and Melania in the White House
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The US President pardoning Türkiye
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Turks during a speech at the White House
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The US President even said that he would call Goble and Waddell, in fact, Chuck and Nancy (in honor of the Democratic Chuck Schumer of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi), but later stated that this was not a good idea, because he would not forgive them: “I will never forgive these two people.”
tradition
Serving the US President with a turkey on Thanksgiving Eve is a tradition that dates back to the 1940s, during the Harry Truman administration. But, at that time, turkey was eaten for dinner.
Over time, presidents began to pardon animals because of the partnership between the poultry industry and the government.
In this way, the turkeys, donated by the National Turkey Federation, save their lives, spend a short time in luxurious rooms in the White House and then go to farms or agricultural centers.