President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a presidential pardon to a turkey named Drumstick, who had come all the way from Minnesota.
Turkey farmers Carl and Sharlene Wittenburg brought Drumstick, along with a turkey named Wishbone, to the White House as part of a Thanksgiving tradition, and First Lady Melania Trump was there with her son Barron to receive them. Carl serves as chairman of the National Turkey Federation, which has brought turkeys to the White House for seven decade but, as President Trump noted, has not always entailed a pardon.
"It was 70 years ago that the National Turkey Federation first presented the national Thanksgiving turkey to President Harry Truman—who, I might add, did not grant the pardon," Trump said. "He refused. He was a tough cookie. Today I am going to be a much nicer president."
Since George H.W. Bush's administration, the president has pardoned the turkey, and Trump praised the bird that the Wittenburgs presented to him.
"We've hosted dozens of incredible world leaders, members of Congress, and along the way, a few very strange birds," Trump said. "But we have yet to receive any visitors quite like our magnificent guest of honor today: Drumstick."
"I'm pleased to report that, unlike millions of other turkeys this time of year, Drumstick has a very, very bright future ahead of him," he added.
Trump also congratulated the five young women from the 4-H chapter in Douglas County who helped raise Drumstick and Wishbone. He also discussed how the pardon power he wields is absolute, noting that he could not even undo former President Barack Obama's pardon of turkeys Tater and Tot.
"As many of you know, I have been very active in overturning a number of executive actions by my predecessor. However, I have been informed by the White House counsel's office that Tater and Tot's pardons cannot under any circumstances be revoked," Trump said.
Trump also thanked the National Turkey Federation for bringing along other turkeys to be given to Martha's Table, a charity that provides meals for needy families. He also thanked American service members as he conducted his remarks.
"Thanks to the finest and bravest people in the entire world—out great men and women in uniform: our military, law enforcement, first responders," Trump said.
"Now I think Drumstick and Wishbone would be very thankful if he would just get around to the pardon," Trump said. "They say, 'Enough talk, just pardon us.'"
As Drumstick was put on a table with decorative gourds, pumpkins, and autumn leaves, Trump issued the pardon and shook hands with the representatives of the National Turkey Foundation, as well as the young women from 4-H. As he greeted them, someone from the crowd could be heard asking if Trump had plans to pardon any people.