Trump pardons turkeys, attacks Biden and says Ukraine deal ‘close’
U.S. President Donald Trump looks at Gobble, one of two turkeys ceremonially pardoned for Thanksgiving, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 25, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
President Donald Trump extended his pardon authority to Thanksgiving turkeys (Gobble and Waddle) during an annual holiday tradition at the White House on Tuesday.
At the Rose Garden ceremony, Trump also touched upon the latest developments regarding a possible US-brokered peace agreement in Ukraine.
“I think we’re very close to a deal, we’ll find out,” Trump said. “I thought one would be over quicker… but I think we’re making progress.”
Trump also criticized former President Joe Biden, claiming Biden used autosignature to sign last year’s turkey pardons, declaring those pardons “totally void.” He said he “officially forgave” the birds named Peach and Blossom, adding that he “rescued them in a short time.”
First Lady Melania Trump’s office had encouraged Americans to text “Gobble” or “Waddle” to 45470 to decide which bird would receive the official pardon. Earlier this year he also shared: survey on x naming birds.
Gobble and Waddle, who were born in July and weigh 52 and 150 pounds respectively, spent the past week getting used to the noise, lights and crowds before settling into their ceremony suite. Willard InterContinental Hotel — a longstanding perk of being the presidential turkey.
National Thanksgiving Turkeys named Waddle and Gobble from North Carolina wait in their room the day before they are to be pardoned for the Thanksgiving holiday at the White House at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC, USA on November 24, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hugs Waddle, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys, with her son Nicholas as he visits the White House press briefing room ahead of the turkey pardon ceremony with U.S. President Donald Trump on November 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Alex Wroblewski | Afp | Getty Images
Experts have previously told CNBC that retailers who order turkeys early lock in lower prices, while others who rely on the spot market face higher costs. Wells Fargo agriculture set It warned that it could increase the price of the same-sized bird by $20 or more where consumers shop.
Major retailers have tried using holiday promotions to prevent shopper withdrawal. Walmart Is he advertising? dinner package Under $56 for 10 people; Aldi has one for $40; Amazon Offers a $25 dinner promotion; And Aim $20 Thanksgiving announced four person agreement.
Despite high turkey prices, Thanksgiving dinner for 10 has gotten cheaper for the third year in a row. AFBF. A “classic” 16-pound turkey dinner with sides costs an average of $55.18 nationwide.
The annual turkey offering dates back to the 1940s and became an official presidential pardon in the 1940s. 1989 Under George HW Bush’s administration. However, turkeys have been given to presidents since the 1870s. White House Historical Association. Over time, this ceremony evolved into soft marketing for America’s multibillion-dollar poultry industry.
This year’s moment of glory comes in the second term, when Trump relied heavily on his primary pardon authority and provided aid to more than 1,000 people January 6 rebels and high-profile figures such as former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, disgraced former representative George Santos and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
