Continuing the longstanding Thanksgiving tradition, President Donald Trump granted presidential pardons to Gobble and Waddle on Tuesday. But during his speech at the Rose Garden, he mocked two democratic opponents with a distasteful joke.
During the annual event on Nov. 25, two North Carolina turkeys named Gobble and Waddle were pardoned by Trump from becoming Thanksgiving dinners this year. The two birds enjoyed a luxurious stay at the Willard InterContinental hotel in D.C. and got clicked in the Willard Room a day before the ceremony. But during his speech, Trump shared that he had different names in mind for the two turkeys.
“The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names Gobble and Waddle. When I first saw their pictures… I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy — but then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people.”
Trump mocked Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi with a pardon joke
Trump’s comment alluded to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Both Democratic leaders have been vocal critics of Trump, and the president has never hidden his dislike for them. But turning a warm ceremony into a political battlefield like that was unnecessary, to say the least. Yet, one can’t expect so much from Trump.
Before attacking the two leaders, Trump also took a jab at former President Joe Biden with his famous “autopen” narrative. He alleged that Biden “used an autopen” for last year’s turkey pardon and determined that they were “totally invalid.” In an attempt to hail himself supreme, he then announced that he has become the birds’ savior now:
The turkeys known as Peach and Blossom last year have been located, and they were on their way to be processed. In other words, to be killed. But I have stopped that journey, and I am officially
pardoning them. They will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them in the nick of time.
Where are Gobble and Waddle now?
So, according to his account, he has pardoned not two, but four turkeys this year. Gobble and Waddle will now return to North Carolina to live the rest of their lives. They will reportedly live under the care of Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. As for Peach and Blossom, we don’t have a choice but to believe Trump that they’re alive.
The names Gobble and Waddle were chosen earlier this month through a poll posted by Melania Trump’s office on X. The name was voted top among three other options: Sugar and Spice, Pumpkin and Pie, and Acorn and Squash. After the successful pardon ceremony, Trump and Melania have headed to Mar-a-Lago to celebrate Thanksgiving.
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