No ‘fowl play’, no ‘ballot stuffing’, Joe Biden jokes at Thanksgiving turkey pardon
- The ‘only red wave this season’ would be if White House dog Commander knocked over the cranberry sauce, the president said in reference to the midterm results
- Biden also subtly likened the birds, Chocolate and Chip, to potential challengers in the coming 2024 election
US President Joe Biden made lighthearted references to Democrats’ success in the midterm elections as he pardoned two turkeys, Chocolate and Chip, in what has become a quirky Thanksgiving tradition under presidents of both parties.
“The votes are in, they’ve been counted, verified. There’s no ballot stuffing, there’s no ‘fowl’ play,” Biden joked Monday during the ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn. He added the “only red wave this season” would be if his German shepherd, Commander, knocked over the cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving dinner.
Biden’s remarks were repeatedly interrupted by the turkeys gobbling and Commander’s barking. The president also subtly likened the turkeys to potential presidential challengers two years from now.
“They interacted with the children to show their softer side,” he said. “Sounds like another flock hoping to come to Washington in 2024.”
The turkey pardoning tradition has a hotly debated origin. Some say Abraham Lincoln was the first to grant clemency to a turkey, while others give credit to Harry Truman for beginning the tradition.
