Trump’s Turkey Pardon Turns Into a Political Spectacle
So, let me walk you through what unfolded during President Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving turkey pardon — an event that’s usually lighthearted, predictable, and mostly about giving two oversized birds a moment in the spotlight. This year, though, the ceremony was turned into something very different, marked by political jabs, unexpected jokes, and even a bit of confusion about one of the turkeys.
The ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden under gloomy skies and light drizzle, which somehow matched the unusual tone of the event. Instead of leaning into the holiday spirit, Trump spent much of his time delivering pointed insults. Right off the bat, he joked that the turkeys — named Gobble and Waddle — should be renamed Chuck and Nancy, after Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. He quickly added that he “would never pardon those people,” setting the stage for the kind of remarks he planned to make.
He didn’t stop there. Trump suggested the birds could be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, a place associated with migrants deported from the United States. Then he pivoted to criticizing last year’s turkey pardon under President Joe Biden, claiming Biden’s use of an autopen made those pardons invalid. He even tossed in a “Where’s Hunter?” for good measure, dragging Biden’s son back into headline territory.
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Before long, Trump shifted his attention to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, saying he had a joke prepared but refused to mention “the fact that he’s a fat slob.” Even though he insisted he wouldn’t say it, he effectively said it anyway. The audience reacted with an uncertain mix of laughter and discomfort.
Eventually, the actual purpose of the event resurfaced: pardoning the turkeys. But only one of them, Gobble, was present. Waddle was nowhere to be seen, and the White House didn’t clarify why. Still, the ceremony proceeded. Trump reached out to stroke Gobble’s feathers and declared, in his signature style, that the bird was “unconditionally pardoned.” He asked who would ever want to harm “this beautiful bird,” offering one of the few moments that resembled a traditional turkey pardon.
Meanwhile, Waddle had apparently been spotted earlier wandering into the White House briefing room, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt coaxed out a perfectly timed gobble.
Trump then used the moment to argue that Thanksgiving meals were becoming cheaper under his leadership, though experts have noted that many holiday items may actually cost more this year. This quick shift back to politics reflected the broader turbulence surrounding his second term — from struggles with Ukraine policy to tensions within his own party and even a recent courtroom setback involving cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
And as if all that weren’t enough, the White House itself is in flux. A new ballroom project has turned the East Wing into a construction zone, altering some of the usual holiday traditions.
In short, what’s typically a cheerful, harmless ceremony became a snapshot of the political tension and unpredictability surrounding the administration right now — with Gobble, and an absent Waddle, right in the middle of it.
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