In a spectacle that left observers stunned, former President Donald Trump transformed the annual White House turkey pardon into a chaotic political performance that shattered decades of tradition.
A Tradition Turned Political
The Rose Garden ceremony, typically marked by lighthearted humour and seasonal goodwill, took a sharply different turn under Trump's stewardship. Instead of the customary bad puns and uplifting messages, attendees witnessed a rambling monologue that ricocheted between topics including immigration, crime, and political grievances.
Trump emerged with First Lady Melania Trump onto a newly paved patio that had replaced the traditional grass, remarking that visitors would otherwise be "sinking into the mud like they've done for many years." The setting complete with gold-framed presidential portraits - notably excluding Joe Biden - set the stage for what would become one of the most unconventional turkey pardons in American history.
Dark Humour and Political Jabs
The president's attempts at humour fell flat with an audience that included JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other supporters. Trump declared last year's turkey pardons "totally invalid" in a clear reference to his election fraud claims, before taking a darker turn by joking about shipping the birds to "the terrorist confinement centre in El Salvador."
In perhaps the most jarring moment of the event, Trump abruptly described Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as "a big, fat slob" before acknowledging he could afford to lose weight himself. The comment starkly contrasted with the ceremony's intended spirit of charity and thanksgiving.
The political references continued as Trump revealed he considered naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy after Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, before declaring he would "never pardon those two people" despite what Melania might suggest.
Ceremony Conclusion Amid Controversy
Eventually returning focus to the turkeys themselves, Trump performed his presidential duty by officially pardoning Gobble. In a moment of bizarre theatre, he appeared to do a turkey impression before stroking the bird's feathers and asking, "Who would want to harm this beautiful bird?"
The event concluded leaving many questioning how a 78-year tradition of presidential turkey pardons had become a platform for political attacks and controversial humour. With Trump having previously disrupted numerous White House customs, this year's ceremony marked another example of his unconventional approach to presidential duties.
As the audience dispersed with forced smiles and polite chuckles, the question remained whether future turkey pardons would continue to serve as political vehicles or return to their original purpose as a lighthearted Thanksgiving tradition.
