President Biden pardons turkeys.
(Picture: The White House/Youtube)President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Friday afternoon following a colonoscopy procedure - in order to pardon two turkeys.
The two turkeys, named Peanut Butter and Jelly, were pardoned by Biden in the White Hose Rose Garden. Following the ceremony, the Indiana-bred birds will retire to their home state at Purdue University’s Animal Sciences Education and Research Farm.
The White House introduced the turkeys on Thursday in a humorous video posted to Twitter.
Meet Peanut Butter and Jelly, the turkeys who will be pardoned by @POTUS tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/36XjavdIlm
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 18, 2021
Pardoning a turkey is a presidential tradition that began during Ronald Regan’s presidency in 1987. Regan’s successor, George H.W. Bush, made it an official part of the “National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation” that the White House puts on every single year.
During what was reported as a “routine” colonoscopy, Biden transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris became acting president for a short time as Biden underwent the procedure.
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters about the hospital visit, and reiterated that it was not an emergency. It also was not the first time a president had gone through the procedure.
“As was the case when President George W. Bush had the same procedure in 2002 and 2007, and following the process set out in the Constitution, President Biden will transfer power to the Vice President for the brief period of time when he is under anesthesia,” Psaki said. “The Vice President will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”
After power was transferred back to Biden, the Thanksgiving tradition continued as planned.
