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Gobble and Waddle are set to be pardoned as part of the annual holiday tradition
Kelly Rissmanin New YorkTuesday 25 November 2025 13:14 GMTComments
CloseTurkeys 'Gobble' and 'Waddle' get VIP treatment at luxury hotel ahead of White House Thanksgiving pardon
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President Donald Trump will grant official pardons to a pair of turkeys Tuesday afternoon, kicking off the holiday season.
The 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation will take place at noon ET at the White House.
Only one turkey — Waddle or Gobble — will receive this year’s ceremonial pardon, but both will be spared.
First Lady Melania Trump’s official account posted a poll asking Americans to vote on which turkey should be granted clemency.
“Tomorrow’s @WhiteHouse Turkey Pardon Ceremony with @POTUS and @FLOTUS is now scheduled for 12PM ET. Remember to vote by texting GOBBLE or WADDLE to 45470!”
The four-month-old turkeys were given their names last week after X users responded to another poll from the Office of the First Lady’s account.
Although the ceremony has spanned decades, starting when President Harry S. Truman was presented a turkey in 1947, John F. Kennedy was the first president to technically grant clemency to a turkey in 1963.
It wasn’t until 1989, when George H.W. Bush said he gave a bird a “presidential pardon,” that the tradition finally stuck.
Key Points
- Two turkeys to be granted clemency
- Meet Gobble and Waddle, the two presidential turkeys
'Seditious Six knew exactly what they were doing,' Hegseth says of lawmakers who posted video about military orders
On Monday, the Department of Defense said it’s performing a “thorough review” of “serious allegations of misconduct” against Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly and several other lawmakers with military backgrounds issued a video last week telling troops they “can and must refuse illegal orders.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday morning called the video that Kelly and others posted as a “politically-motivated influence operation.”
“In the military, vague rhetoric and ambiguity undermines trust, creates hesitation in the chain of command, and erodes cohesion. The military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders. It does not need political actors injecting doubt into an already clear chain of command,” Hegseth said.
“As veterans of various sorts, the Seditious Six knew exactly what they were doing — sowing doubt through a politically-motivated influence operation. The @DeptofWar won’t fall for it or stand for it,” he wrote.
Kelly Rissman25 November 2025 13:14WATCH: Turkeys 'Gobble' and 'Waddle' get VIP treatment at luxury hotel ahead of White House Thanksgiving pardon
Turkeys 'Gobble' and 'Waddle' get VIP treatment at luxury hotel ahead of White House Thanksgiving pardonKelly Rissman25 November 2025 13:10Meet Gobble and Waddle
Kelly Rissman25 November 2025 13:08Two turkeys to be granted clemency
A pair of turkeys are set to be pardoned by President Donald Trump Tuesday afternoon, marking the 78th annual holiday tradition.
Either Waddle or Gobble — the two turkeys — will participate in the ceremony, but both will be spared, according to the Office of the First Lady.
Kelly Rissman25 November 2025 13:06More about
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