The turkey pardon is one of the oddest but most beloved presidential traditions. Every Thanksgiving, while every American family is consuming at least one turkey, the White House is pardoning turkeys. A tradition since 1989, when President George H.W.

Bush pardoned the turkeys, they were sent to a farm to spend the rest of their lives. It’s one of the rare moments during the year when a lighthearted, non-partisan event happens in the White House. But this year’s ceremony didn’t stay apolitical for long.

This Year's Turkey

Gobble and Waddle, two turkeys with snow-white feathers and red necks and heads, are the lucky turkeys for 2025. They are from Travis and Amanda Pittman’s farm in Wayne County, North Carolina. Usually, their names aren’t announced until the press conference hosted by the National Turkey Federation, but the White House made an early announcement this year through online voting.

Before they got pardoned on Tuesday, they spent Monday night in a luxury suite at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, which cost around $400, a room just for them. After President Trump pardons them, they will spend the rest of their lives at North Carolina State University.

Image Source: The White House from Washington, DC from Wikemedia Commons

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Trump’s Opening Remarks

The ceremony started lightheartedly. President Trump met the turkeys and pardoned them. When he saw Gobble and Waddle, both over 50 pounds, he was surprised by their size and suspicious of them being really “healthy.”

After President Trump had pardoned the turkeys, the ceremony had changed flavor. President Trump, following up on his previous comments about the weight of turkeys, jabs at JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, describing him as a “big fat slob.”

President Trump explained that he had prepared a joke about Pritzker, but now he isn’t going to tell it. "I'm not going to tell my Pritzker joke," Trump said. "I have a very cute little joke. Some speechwriter wrote some joke about his weight. I would never want to talk about his weight.

I don't talk about people being fat. I refuse to talk about the fact that he's a fat slob. I don't mention it."

Then, President Trump turned into a bit of humorous self-deprecation, trying to ease the environment: "I'd like to lose a few pounds, too, by the way."

Usually, the turkey pardon ceremony is kept nonpolitical. Therefore, President Trump’s comment sparked a reaction from various news outlets.

Image Source: Gage Skidmore from Wikimedia Commons

Trump's Comments on Chicago

Last month, President Trump sent the National Guard into Chicago to help the city lower its crime rate and illegal immigration cases. The same reason that he sent the National Guard into Washington, D.C.

However, in mid-November, the Pentagon withdrew the troops due to pending lawsuits challenging their deployment.

But on Friday, November 21, a 14-year-old boy was killed, and eight other teenagers were wounded in shootings in The Loop, the downtown corridor in Chicago.

As a result, Trump has been calling for the city to need his help and saying JB Pritzker is competent. In a Nov. 22 Truth Social post, he commented that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson are "refusing Federal Government help for a situation that could be quickly remedied."

He said that if the troops were to stay there, Chicago could be like Washington, D.C., with their crime rate falling and the city safer for the residents.

"The people are chanting, BRING IN TRUMP!!!" President Trump said.

His comments at the ceremony fit into a broader pattern. Recently, he also sent troops to major cities such as Portland and Oregon, aiming to reduce crime. Clearly, the withdrawal from Chicago had elicited his comment during the pardon ceremony.

Image Source: The Trump White House Archived from Wikimedia Commons

Why This Year Felt Different

Even the young generation noticed the drift in this year’s ceremony. The ceremony had become a stage for political messaging, which fits in the broader theme of American politics: polarization. Every political moment now carries weight and offers politicians a chance to express their stance.

As a teen, I worry: will the tension keep increasing until one day it pops? If even a holiday ritual becomes partisan, it says something about our national moment. Maybe it’s time for us to all sit down, negotiate, and disagree respectfully.