On November 25, 2025, the White House’s Rose Garden was the stage for the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation—a tradition that usually offers a moment of levity and unity before the holiday season. This year, however, President Donald Trump transformed the event into a spectacle that was anything but conventional, blending ceremonial cheer with pointed political barbs, policy boasts, and more than a few eyebrow-raising jokes.
The stars of the show, at least officially, were Gobble and Waddle, two hefty turkeys hailing from a farm in Wayne County, North Carolina. Their names, chosen via a social-media poll orchestrated by the first lady’s office, were announced to much fanfare. According to The Wall Street Journal, the birds were treated to an overnight stay at the Willard InterContinental hotel near the White House before their big day. After surviving the ceremony, the lucky duo is set to retire at North Carolina State University—a far cry from the dinner table fate that befalls less fortunate fowl.
But the real drama unfolded as President Trump took the podium. What is typically a lighthearted, apolitical affair quickly morphed into a platform for Trump’s grievances and campaign talking points. According to HuffPost and The Wall Street Journal, the president wasted no time launching into attacks on his political rivals, reserving particular ire for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. In a series of jabs that left little to the imagination, Trump repeatedly labeled Pritzker “a big, fat slob.” He didn’t stop there, directing further insults at Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom he called “low IQ,” and taking swipes at national Democratic figures including President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“The mayor is incompetent and the governor is a big fat slob,” Trump declared, before turning his attention directly to Pritzker: “Gov. Pritzker, if you’re listening, let’s get your act together. Invite us in. We’re going to make your place so safe.” He asserted, “We could make Chicago a safe city in a period of four weeks. In a period of eight weeks, nine weeks, 10 weeks, it would be totally safe.” These comments, reported by both HuffPost and The Wall Street Journal, came as Trump renewed his call to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, citing rising crime and referencing a recent, highly publicized case in which a woman was set on fire in the city’s subway by a repeat offender. Trump noted that he had already sent National Guard troops to other Democratic-led cities, such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Portland, and Memphis.
Pritzker, for his part, responded through a campaign statement, focusing on economic issues rather than Trump’s personal attacks. “While his administration pushes prices higher and higher, my administration’s been focused on lowering grocery costs and eliminating food deserts,” Pritzker said, according to The Wall Street Journal. “Families should never have to choose between paying their bills and having a Thanksgiving dinner.”
Not content to leave anyone out, Trump also poked fun at the ceremonial turkeys themselves. He joked that he was tempted to call them “Chuck and Nancy”—a nod to Schumer and Pelosi—but quipped, “Then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people.” The president even mused about sending the birds to CECOT, the notorious megaprison in El Salvador known for its harsh treatment of detainees, before deciding against it. “Even the birds don’t want to be there, if you know what I mean,” he said, drawing laughter—and perhaps a few winces—from the crowd.
Trump’s speech wasn’t all insults and political theater. He used the occasion to tout his administration’s record on the economy, claiming improvements in economic conditions and low border crossings. He also took a moment to highlight the newly refurbished Rose Garden patio, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. In a lighter moment, Trump referenced Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., who apparently dubbed the 50-pound turkeys the first “MAHA” turkeys—referring to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. “They could be fat, but they’re still MAHA,” Trump joked, adding with a self-deprecating grin that he too hoped to lose a few pounds.
But the president couldn’t resist returning to political controversy. He questioned the validity of President Joe Biden’s 2024 turkey pardons, claiming that the use of an autopen—a device that replicates signatures—rendered last year’s pardons for turkeys Peach and Blossom “null and void.” Trump declared, “I have determined that last year’s turkey pardons are totally invalid, as are the pardons of almost every other person.” He extended his own pardon to Peach and Blossom, joking that they were nearly destined for a Thanksgiving dinner table. Directing his comments at Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump asked, “What are you going to do about that, Pam?” and added, “I don’t know what the hell you’re going to do about that, but that’s…a mess.”
Trump’s penchant for the dramatic was on full display throughout the roughly 17-minute ceremony. At one point, as the turkey made a gobbling noise, Trump laughed and imitated the sound, bringing a rare moment of levity to an otherwise charged event. Despite the pointed jabs and political grandstanding, the president did close with a more traditional Thanksgiving message, urging Americans to “renew our faith in God’s providence” and to “enjoy the fellowship of family and friends.” He also expressed gratitude for the service of the U.S. military, echoing the ceremony’s usual note of unity and national appreciation.
The annual turkey pardon, immortalized in pop culture through shows like The West Wing and Veep, is typically a brief respite from Washington’s partisan rancor. This year, though, it served as a microcosm of the current political climate: deeply polarized, unpredictable, and never short on spectacle. As the turkeys Gobble and Waddle head off to their new home at North Carolina State University, the rest of the nation is left to digest not just their Thanksgiving feast, but the latest chapter in an ongoing political saga—served, as always, with a side of controversy and a dash of humor.