Donald Trump used the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House on Tuesday to deliver a rambling and often controversial speech, departing sharply from the lighthearted traditions of the event. The president joked about pardoning last year’s turkeys, criticised political opponents, and unveiled a new patio in the Rose Garden, replacing the grass with Mar-a-Lago-style slabs.
During the ceremony, Trump noted that one of this year’s turkeys, Waddle, was “missing in action,” while the other, Gobble, was present. He declared last year’s turkey pardons “totally invalid” before retroactively pardoning the birds, Peach and Blossom, who he said were “on their way to be processed.” The remarks drew only polite chuckles from an audience that included Vice-President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Trump veered between topics, discussing nuclear power, border security, car factories, AI, tax cuts, and egg prices. He made a pointed reference to Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, saying he would not pardon them, and described a state governor as “a big, fat slob.” The speech, delivered in light rain, lacked the spontaneity of his campaign rallies and was met with muted laughter.
The event marked a further break from presidential norms, with Trump trashing another tradition that has endured for nearly eight decades. The turkey presentation, normally a silly but reassuring ritual, was overshadowed by political grievances and dark humour, including a reference to the pardon of Hunter Biden.
