by Fresh off several weeks of celebrations for his family and political party, jovial President Joe Biden expressed his appreciation Monday by taking part in the annual White House tradition of pardoning turkeys so they don’t become Thanksgiving dinner. thanks.
“The votes are in, they’ve been counted, verified. No ballot stuffing, no bird game,” Biden laughed on the South Lawn of the White House just before releasing the Valentine’s Day turkey, chocolate and fries. 2022 National Thanksgiving bred in North Carolina. , the substitute, of his imminent future on the dinner plates this Thursday.
President Joe Biden hands the microphone to Chocolate, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, after pardoning him and Chip, on the South Lawn of the White House, November 21, 2002. Joining Biden is the President of the 2022 National Turkey Federation, Ronnie Parker.
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“The only ‘red wave’ this season is going to be a German shepherd, Commander, throw the cranberry sauce off our table,” he said, referring to his family dog, who was watching the turkey pardon tradition from a balcony. near. , while joking about recent gains Democrats have made during the 2022 midterm election cycle, during which they diverted what many pundits anticipated would be landslide congressional victories for Republicans. Instead, Democrats were able to maintain control of the Senate while holding on to additional seats in a House now controlled by the GOP.
The birds, which weigh 46 and 47 pounds, were bred by National Turkey Federation President Ronnie Parker near Monroe, North Carolina. He hosted the birds, along with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican, among others.
The White House celebrated the wedding of Biden’s eldest granddaughter, Naomi, to fellow Washington lawyer Peter Neal on Saturday before observing another milestone on Sunday: the president’s 80th birthday.
“It is a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition here at the White House. There’s a lot to say about that, but it’s cold outside so I’ll keep it short. Nobody likes it when their turkey gets cold,” Biden joked during remarks that spanned about ten minutes as the temperature dipped to the mid-40s.
NTF is celebrating 75 years of this national Thanksgiving tradition, dating back to 1947 with President Harry Truman in 1947. Unofficially, reports point to President Abraham Lincoln, who saved a bird from death at the behest of his son , a little
The National Thanksgiving Turkey and stand-in, Chocolate and Chip, wait to be pardoned by President Joe Biden on the South Lawn of the White House, November 21, 2022. Chocolate and Chip was raised on Circle S. Ranch, outside of Charlotte, NC, and will reside on the North Carolina State campus after today’s ceremony.
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The turkey duo was a suitable match for Biden: His favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate chip.
“Of course, chocolate…is my favorite ice cream,” he said, “We could have called them ‘Chips’ and ‘Science’, but those are good names anyway,” nodding to another achievement led by the Democrats of the Year, a multi-billion dollar bill to boost domestic computer chip manufacturing and more.
The birds will live out the rest of their lives at North Carolina State University, joining the Wolfpack.
“Now when we told them they were joining the Wolfpack, they freaked out a little bit, but then we explained that it was just a school mascot like one of the best poultry science departments in the country,” Biden said.
With all the fun and frivolity, Biden had some more serious thoughts to share about the holidays and the reason for the season, celebrating that this year families will come together more freely than in years past, when the COVID-19 pandemic inhibited the holidays. season.
Hunter Biden and his son Beau Biden look at the two national Thanksgiving turkeys, Chocolate and Chip, in the Rose Garden of the White House before a clemency ceremony, on November 21, 2022.
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“We can’t forget the reason for Thanksgiving in the first place. The pilgrims taught us that it’s very important in difficult times to come together and thank God to be thankful for what we have. That’s what the Thanksgiving tradition is all about. Thank you. To be thankful for what we have and thankful for fellow Americans who we may never meet, but, there you have it, they are thankful,” Biden said, making a pitch for people to get the COVID vaccine.
“And think of the scientists or researchers, doctors and nurses who kept us safe during the pandemic. Two years ago, we couldn’t even safely have Thanksgiving with large family gatherings.”
Biden ended the event with a unifying message for a country divided after the midterm elections:
“Friends. Let’s remember, all political struggles go on, that you read about. Let’s remember one thing. This is the United States of America,” he said.
“The United States of America. There is not a single lonely thing beyond our capacity as a nation, nothing beyond our capacity. If we do it together, united, united.”
Following Monday afternoon’s event, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden head to the home state of the turkeys, Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point, North Carolina, for a Friendsgiving celebration with the troops and their families.
