During the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon, former President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump made an appearance to pardon two turkeys. Known for his off-the-cuff remarks, Trump managed to make headlines with an unexpected seven-word comment to Melania, which was caught by a professional lip reader.
Every year before Thanksgiving, the President of the United States partakes in the ceremonial turkey pardon. This tradition began way back during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln when he spared a turkey’s life at the request of his son, but it was officially instituted by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
This year, the spotlight was on two turkeys named Gobble and Wade. These fortunate birds enjoyed a luxurious stay at the prestigious Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., before their big day. The hotel, known for its elegance, welcomed the birds with a red carpet and offered a suite that costs around $400 per night.
According to the hotel manager, Jaap Boelens, the turkeys seemed to embrace their special treatment. Joking about their stay, Boelens mentioned, “Our special guests arrived yesterday with a red carpet welcome and quickly settled in. I checked in on them this morning, did a credit check, and noticed the minibar was raided, which is totally fine.”
Highlights from Donald Trump’s Speech
In typical Trump fashion, his speech included jabs at his political adversaries. At one point, he humorously considered naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy, referring to Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. “But then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t do it “no matter what Melania told me.”
Gobble and Wade are not destined for any holiday dinner tables; instead, they will retire at the North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science. There, they will live out their days in peace.
During his address, Trump noted, “US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. marked these birds as ‘the first-era MAHA turkeys,’” referring to his slogan “Make America Healthy Again.” Despite their indulgent diet, which Trump said included every fattening food possible, they were deemed special examples of healthy living.
The Bizarre Comment to Melania
The event took an interesting turn when Trump, joined by Melania, made a peculiar comment caught by lip reader Nicola Hickling. As they made their way through the ceremony, Trump amusingly told his wife, “I’m happy to go after you,” after she hesitated for a moment.
As they stood witnessing the grand avian spectacle, Trump remarked on the turkeys’ size, “Wow! Okay, okay, look at that… so that’s not abnormal? … It’s normal then? How big do they get? It looks like a rather violent bird,” displaying an unexpected fascination with the turkeys’ appearance.
As customary at Thanksgiving, families gather and feast on traditional dishes. What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Feel free to share your preferences with us!
