The national Thanksgiving turkeys Peach and Blossom are pictured before a pardoning ceremony with President Joe Biden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, November 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It's officially Turkey time! President Joe Biden opened the White House doors yesterday for the annual turkey pardon ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Peach and Blossom, this year's lucky chosen birds, were pardoned on the South Lawn in front of 2,500 guests and now get to live our their lives in southern Minnesota at Farmamerica.
Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on,’” while Blossom goes by a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.”
In addition to pardoning turkeys, the White House also welcomed the arrival of the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meter) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene.
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Later that day, the president and First Lady Jill Biden headed to New York City to host their "Friendsgiving" for U.S. Coast Guard member and their families.
“Simply put, we owe you. We owe your families,” President Biden said at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York on Staten Island. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
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The meal was part of the first lady's Joining Forces initiative to support military families. Both Bidens tied on aprons with the presidential seal around their dress clothes and joined the chow line, where they served a side dish of roasted Brussels sprouts. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine helped with the menu of turkey, ham, side dishes and desserts.
Check out photos from the holiday festivities at the White House below.
President Joe Biden speaks and pardons the national Thanksgiving turkey, Peach, during a pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, as John Zimmerman, chair of the National Turkey Federation and his son Grant, look on. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)President Joe Biden, right, stands with John Zimmerman, left, chair of the National Turkey Federation, his son Grant Zimmerman, center, and the national Thanksgiving turkey, Peach, during a pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Joe Biden stands with one of the national Thanksgiving turkeys, Peach, during a pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Beau Biden, grandson of President Joe Biden, is pictured with the national Thanksgiving turkeys, Peach and Blossom, after a pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)President Joe Biden, center right, departs with his grandson Beau Biden after pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkeys during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Beau Biden, grandson of President Joe Biden, is pictured with the national Thanksgiving turkeys, Peach and Blossom, after a pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)The official 2024 White House Christmas Tree arrives on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm from Newland, N.C., provided the Fraser fir that will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)First lady Jill Biden waves as she walks with her grandson Beau Biden after receiving the official 2024 White House Christmas Tree on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm from Newland, N.C., provided the Fraser fir that will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)President Joe Biden, from second left, and chef Robert Irvine serve food at a Friendsgiving event with service members and their families in the Staten Island borough of New York, Monday, Nov. 25 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)President Joe Biden, from second left, and chef Robert Irvine serve food at a Friendsgiving event with service members and their families in the Staten Island borough of New York, Monday, Nov. 25 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
