WASHINGTON (AP) — On Monday, President Joe Biden commenced his final holiday season at the White House with the traditional act of pardoning two turkeys, allowing them to escape the Thanksgiving meal and instead enjoy their lives in southern Minnesota.
The 82-year-old leader greeted 2,500 guests on the South Lawn under clear, sunny skies, sharing light-hearted jokes about the turkeys, dubbed “Peach” and “Blossom.” During the ceremony, he reflected on the bittersweet moments of his presidency as he nears its end, which will officially conclude on January 20, 2025, when power transitions to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, whom Biden bested in the previous election.
“It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden expressed, acknowledging the upcoming change in leadership as he prepares to step away from the political arena after a lengthy career spanning half a century.
As he and First Lady Jill Biden navigate this busy holiday season, they are engaging in numerous festivities that will serve as a farewell to their time in the White House. December is filled with holiday events, welcoming various groups from White House staff to members of Congress and the press.
During the turkey pardoning ceremony, Biden expressed his fondness for the birds’ names, inspired by the state flower of Delaware. “The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he remarked, occasionally interrupted by Peach’s lively gobbles. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” he joked, prompting laughter from the audience, which included cabinet members, families of White House staff, and students from 4H and Future Farmers of America programs.
Biden described the philosophical mottos of the turkeys: Peach’s was to “Keep calm and gobble on,” while Blossom took the friendly approach of “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.”
Peach and Blossom hail from the farm of John Zimmerman, located near Northfield in southern Minnesota. Zimmerman has raised approximately 4 million turkeys and currently serves as president of the National Turkey Federation, the organization responsible for providing Thanksgiving turkeys to U.S. presidents since the aftermath of World War II. Interestingly, President Harry Truman preferred to have the turkeys cooked for the dinner table. Official pardon ceremonies only became a yearly White House custom during President George H.W. Bush’s administration in 1989.
With their stay secured at Farmamerica, an agricultural education center located near Waseca, Minnesota, Peach and Blossom will help promote agricultural education and inspire future generations of farmers.
Later in the day, First Lady Jill Biden is expected to receive the official White House Christmas tree, which will take its place in the Blue Room. Following this, the Bidens will head to New York City for a “Friendsgiving” gathering at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island.
Biden began this farewell season on Friday night with a celebratory gala for hundreds of friends, supporters, and staff, held in a tent on the South Lawn with a view of the Lincoln Memorial. Cabinet officials, Democratic supporters, and long-time aides showed their appreciation for the president, despite the political pressures surrounding Biden’s tenure and the recent defeats experienced by his party, including Vice President Kamala Harris‘s loss on November 5.
“I’m so proud that we’ve accomplished all of this with a deep commitment to the fundamental values of America,” Biden declared, dressed in a tuxedo for the black-tie affair. Amidst his ongoing criticisms of Trump, he expressed a sense of national optimism: “I believe America is in a stronger position to lead the world now than at any time in my 50 years of public service.”
In her toast, Jill Biden referred to her husband’s 2020 campaign promise to “restore the soul of the nation” amidst the challenges posed by Trump’s presidency. However, with the recent election outcomes, the narrative of Biden’s four years is now situated between the lasting impact of Trump’s leadership and the potential future of the Democratic Party, particularly highlighted by the presence of emerging leaders such as Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who raised their glasses to the president while eyeing the future of the party leading into the 2028 election cycle.
___ Associated Press reporters Darlene Superville in Washington and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
