President Donald Trump carried out the annual White House Thanksgiving tradition on Tuesday by granting pardons to two turkeys, using the occasion to joke that former President Joe Biden’s pardons last year were “null and void” because they were signed with an autopen.
Trump made the comments while presenting clemency to this year’s birds, “Gobble” and “Waddle,” noting in a lighthearted moment that he had effectively rescued last year’s turkeys, “Peach” and “Blossom,” from becoming someone’s dinner after declaring Biden’s pardons invalid.
“I wanted to make an important announcement. Because you remember last year, after a thorough and very rigorous investigation by [Attorney General] Pam Bondi and all of the people at Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and the White House Counsel’s Office…I have determined that last year’s turkey pardons are totally invalid,” Trump shockingly remarked.
“Null and void,” he added, explaining that the birds pardoned in 2023 had been located and were on their way to slaughter.
“But I’ve stopped that journey, and I am officially pardoning them,” he dramatically continued.
“And they will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. We saved them in the nick of time.”
Those attending the event in the Rose Garden were already aware which turkey would be spared, as First Lady Melania Trump’s office had asked Americans to vote in advance for the bird Trump would save from the Thanksgiving table.
How long till a leftist federal judge reverses the Turkeys pardons??? pic.twitter.com/iCMHEyq33M
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 25, 2025
Several members of the administration were present on stage, including Vice President JD Vance with his wife and children, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“This is a big day, a pardon day for a very important beast,” Trump remarked about Gobble. “That’s a well-trained turkey. See how happy he is?”
President Trump will pardon two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle at the White House today.
The presidential turkey pardon dates back to President H.W. Bush, while President Truman was the first to be presented with a turkey by the National Turkey Foundation. Both Gobble and… pic.twitter.com/owP5VbaaUP
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 25, 2025
During the ceremony, the speakers played “Birdland,” the 1977 jazz fusion classic by Weather Report.
Trump noted that this year’s turkeys were unusually large, each weighing more than 50 pounds.
He also quipped that Waddle, whom he described as “missing in action,” would serve as the National Thanksgiving Turkey if Gobble could not fulfill ceremonial duties.
“Gobble, you’re pardoned!” Trump declared to the delight of the audience.
The president also used the moment to deliver a few Thanksgiving-themed political barbs.
He quipped that upon first seeing photos of the turkeys, he considered naming them “Chuck and Nancy,” referencing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
President Trump is ending the careers of Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi at the annual turkey pardoning 🤣🤣
"The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names Gobble and Waddle. When I first saw their pictures, I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I would… pic.twitter.com/DJtrJSu2XN
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 25, 2025
“But then I realized I wouldn’t pardon those two people. I would never pardon them, I don’t care what Melania would tell me,” Trump zinged.
He went on to reference Illinois Democrat Governor JB Pritzker while commenting on efforts to reduce crime in Washington and Memphis.
“Governor Pritzker, if you’re listening, let’s get your act together,” Trump commanded.
😂😂Classic Trump ~ ~ During the pardoning of the turkeys, President Trump said "The Mayor [Johnson] is incompetent and the Governor [Pritzker] is a big fat slob." pic.twitter.com/B0aysCfeZI
— Mary (@matjendav4) November 25, 2025
He mentioned that he had prepared a joke about Pritzker’s size but chose not to use it.
“Some speech writer wrote a joke about his weight, but I would never want to talk about his weight. I don’t talk about people being fat,” Trump added.
“I refuse to talk about the fact that he’s a fat slob. I don’t mention it.”
Trump and Pritzker have clashed over the president’s push for a crackdown on crime in Chicago and the removal of undocumented immigrants from the city.
The governor has resisted those demands, even amid several recent violent crimes, including an incident in which a woman was set on fire on public transit by a repeat offender.
Trump has repeatedly offered to send the National Guard, writing on Truth Social after a shooting last week, “The people are chanting, BRING IN TRUMP!!!”
The president also joked about his own weight, saying, “I don’t mention it,” before adding that he “would like to lose a few pounds.”
“But I’m not gonna lose it on Thanksgiving, I’ll tell you that. Because I’m gonna have a turkey, but it’s not gonna be that one,” he remarked about the guest of honor.
Trump highlighted reduced food costs, noting that turkey prices have fallen 16% since last year and that the overall price of a typical Thanksgiving meal has dropped 5% since 2024, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
An hour ahead of the ceremony, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt escorted Waddle into the briefing room, where members of the press called out questions to the bird.
After leaving the White House, Gobble and Waddle are scheduled to return to North Carolina.
They will live at NC State University alongside “Chocolate” and “Chip,” the turkeys pardoned by Biden in 2022.
Presidential turkey pardons have taken place in an official capacity since 1989, beginning under President George H.W. Bush.
This year's two lucky turkeys, ‘Gobble’ and ‘Waddle,’ are enjoying a luxury stay at a Washington, D.C., hotel as they await their pardons by US President Trump pic.twitter.com/idImgZp7lb
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 24, 2025
Now, the pardons are part of a larger media tour in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Gobble and Waddle reportedly participated in 20 interviews on Monday before spending the night at the Willard InterContinental Hotel.
Watch the full Thanksgiving Turkey pardoning ceremony here: