Presidential Turkey Pardon: The Evolution of an American Tradition

President Trump continued a beloved White House tradition Tuesday by pardoning two turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, during the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning ceremony that has become a fixture of the presidential calendar for more than three decades.

The 50-pound Gobble and 52-pound Waddle arrived in Washington from North Carolina, staying at the capital’s prestigious Willard InterContinental Hotel before their moment in the spotlight at the White House Rose Garden. Following their presidential reprieve, the fortunate birds will retire to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science, where they will live out their natural lives.

During the lighthearted ceremony, Trump took the opportunity to joke about his predecessor, suggesting that former President Joe Biden had used an autopen to pardon last year’s turkeys, rendering those pardons “totally invalid.” The president quipped that he had stepped in to save those turkeys as well “in the nick of time.”

While the modern turkey pardoning has become a cherished tradition, its origins stretch back decades. The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation began in the 1940s when the National Turkey Federation first presented a live turkey to the president for the holiday season.

Many historians credit President John F. Kennedy with initiating the concept of pardoning in 1963, when he informally declared that year’s presented turkey would be allowed to “grow.” Although Kennedy never used the specific word “pardon,” the Los Angeles Times reported on the incident with the headline “Turkey gets presidential pardon,” establishing the concept in the public imagination.

The tradition evolved gradually, with President Ronald Reagan making reference to a potential pardon for a turkey named Charlie in 1987. However, it wasn’t until the administration of George H.W. Bush in 1989 that the ceremony became formalized as an annual White House tradition.

“Let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy — he’s presented a presidential pardon as of right now — and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here,” Bush declared, establishing the template for presidential turkey pardons that continues to this day.

The ceremony represents a rare moment of bipartisan continuity in Washington. Each administration since Bush’s has maintained the tradition, often using it as an opportunity for presidential humor and light-hearted remarks during the holiday season. The event typically attracts significant media attention and provides a festive photo opportunity at the White House.

The National Turkey Federation continues to play a central role in the tradition, selecting and raising the birds specifically for the presidential ceremony. The chosen turkeys are typically acclimated to lights, crowds, and noise in preparation for their moment at the White House.

This year’s ceremony marks Trump’s return to the tradition following his election victory and underscores the continuity of certain presidential customs regardless of political transitions. The pardoning serves as a reminder of the holiday season’s approach and represents one of the more whimsical presidential duties performed at the White House.

For Gobble and Waddle, the ceremony represents an extraordinary stroke of luck. While millions of their fellow turkeys will become the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinners across America, these two birds have secured their place in presidential history and a comfortable retirement in North Carolina.