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WASHINGTON—As part of a White House Thanksgiving tradition, President Donald Trump pardoned a turkey called Peas on Nov. 20 in the Rose Garden, calling it “a lucky bird.”
“That turkey is so lucky. I’ve never seen such a beautiful turkey,” Trump said.
“It has been stated that President Abraham Lincoln, ‘Honest Abe,’ was the first president to grant such a pardon after his son Ted befriended the Christmas turkey and implored his father ‘Please dad, please save it’ and this grand tradition [began].”
National Turkey Federation presented the president two live domestic turkeys named Peas and Carrots.
The president spared both turkeys from a Thanksgiving table.
Trump said although both turkeys were being pardoned, Peas was declared the winner of a public vote conducted on the White House website. Trump said the election was “fair and open.”
“Unfortunately Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount,” he joked.
Peas, a 39-pound turkey and Carrots, a 41-pound turkey came to Washington from Huron, South Dakota where they were raised.
Both turkeys will be sent to “Gobblers Rest” on the campus of Virginia Tech and will be taken care of by students and veterinarians.
“Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas,” Trump said.
During the pardoning ceremony, Trump took a moment to remember the citizens affected by California’s devastating wildfires and to honor U. S. troops overseas.
