President Donald Trump continued his Thanksgiving tradition on Tuesday by pardoning the White House’s annual turkeys, Gobble and Wade. As usual, his remarks included a mix of praise and political jabs, keeping him in the headlines.
Trump arrived at the ceremony with First Lady Melania Trump. A professional lip reader noted that he made a peculiar comment to her during the event.
The presidential turkey pardon dates back to President Abraham Lincoln, but it became an annual tradition under President George H.W. Bush in 1989. Gobble and Wade, the honorees this year, were treated to a lavish White House stay ahead of their retirement.
Speaking to WAGM, Jaap Boelens, hotel manager at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, said the turkeys spent Monday night in a luxury suite costing around $400 per night. “Our special guests arrived yesterday with a red carpet welcome and quickly settled in, I checked in on them this morning, I did a credit check as well,” Boelens joked. “I noticed the mini bar was raided, and that’s totally fine.”
During his speech, Trump did not shy away from political commentary. Referring to the turkeys, he said he had considered naming them Chuck and Nancy, seemingly targeting Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. “But then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people,” Trump explained, adding he wouldn’t do it “no matter what Melania told me.”
Gobble and Wade will not be part of any Thanksgiving table. Instead, they will retire to North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh. According to Trump, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had certified the birds as “the first-era MAHA turkeys,” referencing the slogan “Make America Healthy Again.” “They could be fat but they are still MAHA,” Trump said. “They have eaten every fattening food you can eat. We wanted to make them special.”
Trump’s interaction with the First Lady also drew attention. Professional lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Express that as the couple descended the stairs, Trump remarked to Melania, “I’m happy to go after you.” Observing the turkeys, the president continued speaking to his wife: “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.”
