Trump Transforms Traditional Turkey Pardoning Into Political Platform: Saves 'Waddle' and 'Gobble' From Thanksgiving Table

Nov 26, 2025 11:48 am CST

President Donald Trump continued the White House tradition of pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys, saving North Carolina-raised 'Waddle' and 'Gobble' from holiday dinner tables. However, the typically lighthearted ceremony took a political turn as Trump used the platform to criticize political opponents and make claims about crime and economic statistics, transforming a bipartisan tradition into something more contentious.