President Trump hosted a 36-pound turkey in the Rose Garden Tuesday and granted a presidential pardon to save the bird from becoming a Thanksgiving dinner.
“In the spirit of Thanksgiving I will grant a presidential pardon to a turkey,” Mr. Trump said, carrying on a age-old White House tradition.
The turkey named Drumstick strutted in the Rose Garden as Mr. Trump made brief remarks. The bird was then placed on a table to receive the president’s verbal reprieve from the commander in chief.
Mr. Trump noted that it was 70 years ago that the National Turkey Federation first presented a National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Harry Truman, who did not grant a pardon.
“He refused. He was a tough cookie,” Mr. Trump joked. “Today I am going to be a much nicer president.”
He added, “Oh, Drumstick, I think, is going to be very happy.”
In addition to Drumstick, a second turkey named Wishbone was covered by the pardon.
After the pardoning, the turkeys will join last year’s turkeys at Virginia Tech’s “Gobblers Rest” exhibit, where students and veterinarians care for the birds.
The public can visit the turkeys at the exhibit and learn about the university’s teaching, research, and outreach programs in animal and poultry sciences and veterinary medicine, according to the White House.
Drumstick and Wishbone were raised in western Minnesota under the supervision of National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg and his wife Sharlene, along with five young women from the Douglas County 4-H chapter.
The Whittenburgs and the five young women from 4-H attended the Rose Garden ceremony.
The National Turkey Federation will also brought two turkeys from Jaindl’s Turkey Farm of Orefield, Pennsylvania, for the First Family to donate to charity. The First Family donated the turkeys to Martha’s Table in D.C., the White House said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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