President Trump Pardons Gobble the Turkey in a Lively

By ClickUSANews Staff | November 26, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a sunny Rose Garden ceremony packed with laughs and family cheers, President Donald Trump officially spared a massive North Carolina turkey named “Gobble” from the Thanksgiving table on November 25, 2025. The light-hearted tradition offered a brief escape from politics while millions of Americans battled holiday travel chaos.

Flanked by First Lady Melania Trump, Trump petted the 50-pound bird and declared, “Gobble, you are hereby unconditionally pardoned—who would want to harm this beautiful bird?” The runner-up turkey, “Waddle,” was also spared and both will live out their days as campus celebrities at North Carolina State University.

Never one to miss a punchline, Trump joked about “fake news turkeys,” declared last year’s Biden pardons “totally invalid” because they were signed with an autopen, and even floated renaming the birds “Chuck and Nancy” before adding, “I would never pardon those two.” The crowd roared.

The Surprisingly Long History of Presidential Turkey Pardons

• The modern formal pardon began in 1989 with George H.W. Bush.
• Abraham Lincoln reportedly spared a turkey in 1863 at the plea of his son Tad (the first unofficial pardon).
• John F. Kennedy let a bird “grow” in 1963, days before his assassination.
• Ronald Reagan joked about pardoning a turkey during Iran-Contra questions in 1987.
• Every president since Bush Sr. has kept the tradition alive.

Fun fact: The National Turkey Federation has gifted birds to the White House since 1947, but they used to end up as dinner until mercy became the norm.

Mercy for Turkeys… What About Political Foes?

With Gobble and Waddle now among the more than 1,600 pardons issued in Trump’s second term (including controversial January 6 cases), the ceremony sparked a playful question: Should the holiday spirit of forgiveness extend to political rivals?

Reader Poll: Should presidents offer “Thanksgiving-style” pardons to political opponents for national unity?

• Yes – Let’s gobble up the grudges and move on!
• No – Keep mercy for the birds only.
• Only if they promise not to crow about it later.

(Vote in the comments below – we’ll tally the results!)

Bonus: Surviving Thanksgiving Travel Chaos 2025

While Gobble waddles free, a record 81+ million Americans are facing packed airports and highways still reeling from the recent 43-day government shutdown and incoming winter storms. Expect delays, especially in Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and L.A.

Pro tips: download FlightAware, pack extra snacks, choose flexible tickets, and check weather early.

From viral turkey jokes to record travel headaches, this year’s pardon delivered classic White House whimsy with a side of real-world relevance.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ClickUSANews – may your plate be full and your flights on time!

Keywords: Trump turkey pardon 2025, Gobble turkey, presidential turkey pardon tradition, Thanksgiving travel delays 2025, White House Thanksgiving