President Trump on Tuesday spared Gobble, one of the White House’s annual Thanksgiving turkeys, in a brief ceremony marking the long-standing presidential tradition of granting a reprieve to a holiday bird. The event, held at the White House, followed years of similar pardons by presidents from both parties and drew lighthearted attention as families prepare for the holiday.
Gobble, presented to the president by White House staff, was officially excused from becoming part of a Thanksgiving meal and will be relocated to a farm or sanctuary to live out his natural life. The ceremonial pardon has become a yearly ritual symbolizing gratitude and a touch of levity amid the formalities of the season.
Mr. Trump used the occasion to reflect on Thanksgiving themes and wished Americans a safe holiday. The turkey pardon routinely attracts media coverage and public interest, balancing solemn national matters with a moment of tradition and national unity. As in past years, social media and commentators reacted with a mix of amusement and commentary about the presidency and the holiday season.
While the turkey pardon is largely symbolic—no law requires such an act—the tradition continues to be embraced as a festive pause from the political calendar. Gobble’s reprieve follows the same pattern: a public presentation, a short statement from the president, and arrangements for the bird’s post-pardon care away from the holiday dinner table.
