Trump Turns Thanksgiving Tradition on Its Head with Rant-Filled Turkey Pardon

WASHINGTON – In a break with decades of tradition, former President Donald Trump transformed the annual presidential turkey pardon into a sprawling, grievance-laden address, veering from policy critiques to personal attacks during a holiday meant for national gratitude. The event, typically a lighthearted moment, underscored Trump’s continued penchant for disrupting established norms.

From Gratitude to Grievances

The tradition of a presidential turkey pardon dates back to the early 1990s under President George H.W. Bush, evolving into a moment for the president to express national unity and thankfulness. However, Trump abandoned that spirit, using the occasion to air a litany of complaints.

His remarks ranged from criticisms of gasoline prices and crime rates in Washington D.C., to commentary on the war in Ukraine and unsubstantiated claims about the mental acuity of his political rival, President Joe Biden. He also launched personal attacks, deriding Chicago’s mayor as having “low IQ” and the Illinois governor as “a very fat person.”

“The Weave” Unravels at Thanksgiving

Trump himself has described his rambling, off-topic speaking style as “The Weave,” a “brilliant” method of communication. But on Tuesday, the lengthy digressions drew criticism, even inspiring a late-night monologue from comedian Seth Meyers, who quipped that the turkeys themselves were pleading for a swift end to the ordeal: “Just kill us! End the suffering!”

A Double Pardon and Dubious Claims

The two turkeys spared this year, named Gobble and Waddle, had enjoyed a pre-pardon stay at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, a tradition for the honored birds. But the event took another unexpected turn when Trump extended a pardon to two turkeys – Peach and Blossom – pardoned by President Biden in 2024, claiming Biden’s action was invalid due to the use of an autopen. He then asserted, without evidence, that these turkeys were on their way to slaughter before his intervention.

Adding to the controversy, Trump falsely claimed that the price of turkeys had significantly decreased under his policies. However, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals the opposite: turkey prices have actually
increased by 75 percent since October 2024.

Thanksgiving’s Shifting Meaning

Thanksgiving, with its roots in 17th-century British colonial harvest festivals, remains a deeply significant holiday for many Americans, often considered even more important than Christmas. The tradition of the turkey pardon, while relatively recent, has become a symbolic gesture of clemency and goodwill. Trump’s departure from this tradition raises questions about the evolving meaning of the holiday in a deeply polarized political landscape.