President Trump pardons turkeys Gobble and Waddle in annual White House ceremony, adding to his 1,600 pardons while making Thanksgiving cost claims.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump continued the annual Thanksgiving tradition by pardoning two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle at the White House Rose Garden ceremony.
The giant white-plumed birds each weighed over 50 pounds and were raised on a North Carolina farm.
Trump joked that he initially considered naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy after his political opponents Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
“But then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them,” Trump said. “I would never pardon those two people.”
The ceremony follows a tradition started by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 of sparing turkeys from Thanksgiving tables.
Trump has granted more than 1,600 pardons during his term, including to allies involved in challenging the 2020 election results.
He also addressed Thanksgiving meal costs, claiming Americans would enjoy more affordable celebrations this year.
Trump cited a Walmart study showing a 25% price reduction while making cost-saving menu substitutions.
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s recent survey indicated a more modest 5% savings for a complete Thanksgiving meal.
In a continuing political attack, Trump declared last year’s turkey pardons by President Joe Biden invalid.
He claimed without evidence that Biden’s use of an automated signing device made those pardons illegitimate.
Gobble and Waddle will reside at North Carolina State University’s agriculture college for the remainder of their lives.
The National Turkey Federation confirmed the birds’ permanent home at the educational institution. – Reuters
