President Donald Trump fulfilled his annual Thanksgiving tradition by pardoning two eight-year-old turkeys, elevating them to honorary feathered guests. The birds, designated as the official “Happy” and “Holiday” of the season, will retire at North Carolina State University’s poultry program.
During the ceremony, Trump jokingly revealed he had considered naming the turkeys after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before deciding that they would receive clemency instead. He also used an autopen to apply his signature to the formal pardon orders—sparking commentary about the ceremony’s blend of levity and political messaging.
He further criticized Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, calling him a “big, fat slob” and using the event to highlight economic issues, saying consumer food costs are “coming down very nicely”—though independent data suggest the decline is smaller than claimed. The festivities offered a mix of symbolic tradition, campaign-style commentary and high-wire political theater.