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Trump Pardons Turkeys Gobble and Waddle in Lighthearted White House Thanksgiving Ceremony

President Donald Trump will spare two turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, during the 78th National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation; only one bird will appear onstage though both will be saved. The turkeys, hatched last July in North Carolina and weighing about 52 and 50 pounds, were prepped for the event and will retire to NC State University's Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh. The article traces the quirky White House tradition from Lincoln-era folklore through its midcentury formalization and notes presidents' humorous remarks at past ceremonies.

09:38 PM, 11/25/2025Culture
Trump Pardons Turkeys Gobble and Waddle in Lighthearted White House Thanksgiving Ceremony

President Donald Trump will preside over the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, formally sparing two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle. The ceremonial pardon is a lighthearted White House tradition that offers a moment of levity amid broader political and global tensions.

Only one bird will appear onstage for the public ceremony, though the First Lady's office confirmed that both turkeys will ultimately be spared. The public was invited to choose which bird would step forward by texting "Gobble" or "Waddle" to 45470.

Hatched last July in North Carolina, Gobble and Waddle weigh about 52 and 50 pounds respectively. The pair were transported to Washington, acclimated to crowds, bright lights and noise, and stayed at the Willard InterContinental Hotel prior to the ceremony. After the presentation, both birds will retire to North Carolina State University's Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh.

History of the tradition

The custom of sparing White House turkeys stretches back in folklore to Abraham Lincoln, when his son reportedly persuaded him to spare a family turkey. The ritual gradually evolved through the 20th century: a competitive turkey story from 1920 involved birds sent to President Woodrow Wilson; the National Turkey Federation became the official supplier to the first family in 1947; and President Harry Truman's acceptance of a live turkey helped institutionalize the annual presentation. John F. Kennedy is credited with the first documented presidential "pardon" in 1963, and the ceremony was regularized when President George H.W. Bush revived it in 1989.

Politics, humor and holiday cheer

Presidents often use the turkey pardon to trade topical jokes. In 2019, Mr. Trump quipped that the turkeys "have already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff's basement," referencing an impeachment inquiry. President Joe Biden used playful election-themed lines when pardoning Chocolate and Chip in 2022, and President Barack Obama once riffed about the courage of the turkeys and closed with a pun: "Yes, we cran."

While the turkey pardon is largely ceremonial, the event has become a much-loved annual moment that blends history, humor and holiday spirit at the White House.

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