On November 25, 2025, the White House’s Rose Garden played host to a familiar, if surreal, blend of holiday ritual and political theater. President Donald Trump, in the thick of a turbulent second term, presided over the ceremonial pardoning of two North Carolina turkeys—Waddle and Gobble—before jetting off to his private Florida resort for Thanksgiving. The annual turkey pardon, a presidential tradition dating back decades, is typically a lighthearted interlude. But this year’s ceremony unfolded against a backdrop of political setbacks, policy battles, and headline-grabbing controversies that made the respite feel more fleeting than ever.
Waddle and Gobble, the feathered guests of honor, had been treated to luxury hotel accommodations ahead of their White House debut. Yet, as the ceremony began, only Gobble was present. “Gobble, I just want to tell you this—very important—you are hereby unconditionally pardoned,” Trump declared, drawing applause from the gathered crowd. He reached over to pet the bird, adding with a grin, “Who would want to harm this beautiful bird?” As for Waddle, the president quipped, “Waddle, by the way, is missing in action, but that’s OK. We’ll pretend Waddle is here.” According to the Associated Press, the scene was as much spectacle as tradition, with Waddle making a cameo earlier in the White House briefing room to the delight of reporters and staff.
But holiday cheer was in short supply when it came to the political landscape. Just weeks earlier, Democrats had scored sweeping victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and several other states, a stinging rebuke that left the president with little room to celebrate. As AP noted, these defeats have left Trump facing a potentially splintering Republican coalition ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Some in his own party have already crossed him by pushing legislation to force the Justice Department to release more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case—a rare show of dissent in a party often wary of challenging its leader.
Economic frustrations were also simmering beneath the surface. Research indicates that holiday meals could cost more in 2025 than in previous years, despite Trump’s repeated claims to the contrary. “Persistent frustration with elevated prices” is how AP described the mood, as Americans prepared for Thanksgiving with an eye on their wallets. Two new Pew Research Center polls from September and October underscored this unease, finding that U.S. Hispanic adults were increasingly pessimistic about the economy and immigration under Trump’s administration. Many reported feeling worse about their place in the country and more anxious about the risk of deportation for themselves or loved ones.
The president, however, was undeterred in using the moment to seize the spotlight and settle political scores. During the turkey pardon, Trump made a series of eyebrow-raising remarks, including a false claim that Washington, D.C., had not seen a murder in six months. In reality, there have been 61 homicides in the city since May 25, 2025, and 125 total for the year, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Trump also used the event to insult Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, calling him a “big fat slob” and suggesting, “Gov Pritzker, if you’re listening, let’s get your act together.” He added, in a moment of self-deprecation, that he too “would like to lose a few pounds.”
Not content to leave his predecessor out of the fray, Trump took aim at Joe Biden, claiming that Biden had used an autopen for last year’s turkey pardon, which Trump argued made it “totally invalid.” He joked that Biden’s turkeys, “Peach” and “Blossom,” were on their way to be processed, but that he was officially pardoning them along with this year’s birds. The barbs and jokes were vintage Trump, but they did little to mask the mounting pressures facing his administration.
On the international front, Trump expressed cautious optimism about efforts to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I think we’re getting very close to a deal. We’ll find out,” he said, referencing ongoing talks in Abu Dhabi between U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Russian officials. Yet, as AP reported, a previous version of Trump’s peace plan had met with swift criticism from European allies and even some Republicans, casting doubt on whether a breakthrough was truly imminent.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military was reportedly preparing to target Venezuela with strikes as part of an anti-drug operation, a move that could destabilize the country’s leadership. The White House, normally settling in for a festive holiday season, was instead buzzing with frenetic activity. Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing to make room for a new ballroom had turned part of the presidential residence into a construction site, even as holiday tours were set to continue.
Back on the domestic policy front, the Trump administration announced plans to review all refugees admitted during the Biden administration—a move that, according to AP, has sown confusion and fear among nearly 200,000 people who arrived in the U.S. during that period. The Department of Homeland Security suspended green card approvals for these refugees, with spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin stating, “Corrective action is now being taken to ensure those who are present in the United States deserve to be here.” Advocates, for their part, argue that refugees undergo the most rigorous vetting of any group entering the country and warn that the review could face legal challenges.
In a related shake-up, Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham—who had previously halted vaccination promotion efforts in his state—was confirmed as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abraham’s appointment drew attention for his skepticism of CDC vaccination campaigns, especially after he ordered a stop to media and community health outreach earlier in the year.
Political drama was not confined to the executive branch. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s surprise resignation from the House after a public disagreement with Trump sent shockwaves through Georgia. As AP reported, some local observers believed Greene could have survived politically even without Trump’s backing, raising questions about the president’s grip on a narrowly divided Congress.
Democrats, meanwhile, were not standing still. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee unveiled an eight-figure investment plan targeting rural and minority voters in key districts across Colorado, Michigan, New York, Texas, and Virginia. “We know that to win the House majority, House Democrats need to meaningfully engage with AANHPI, Black, Latino, and rural voters as early as possible,” said DCCC chair Rep. Suzan DelBene in a statement.
Through it all, the Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony provided a momentary distraction—a ritual of mercy for Waddle and Gobble, but little relief for an administration beset by challenges at home and abroad. The juxtaposition of holiday tradition and political tumult was impossible to miss, leaving the nation to ponder what the coming year might bring as the White House—and the country—head toward a pivotal election season.
