Trump spares turkeys at annual pardoning ceremony, but roasts his political opponents
By Chris Megerian Associated Press WASHINGTON President Donald Trump didn t bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual He joked about sending the turkeys to an infamous prison in El Salvador that has been used to house newcomers deported from the United States He commented the birds should be named Chuck and Nancy after Democratic stalwarts Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi but I would never pardon those people Trump claimed that last year s turkey pardons issued by President Joe Biden were invalid because he used an autopen Where s Hunter he revealed suggesting that his predecessor s son could once again face legal jeopardy And all of that was before Trump turned his attention to Illinois Gov J B Pritzker a Democrat who has resisted the White House s plans to deploy the National Guard in Chicago Trump disclosed he had a joke prepared about Pritzker but I refuse to talk about the fact that he s a fat slob I don t mention it Scattered laughter rippled through the audience which sat under cloudy skies and an intermittent drizzle on the Rose Garden patio Trump eventually got around to the business at hand which was pardoning the turkeys Gobble and Waddle Both were spared the dinner table but only one got the spotlight Gobble I just want to tell you this very crucial you are hereby unconditionally pardoned Trump mentioned He reached over to run his hand over the feathers saying Who would want to harm this beautiful bird Waddle had previously been spotted in the White House briefing room Waddle want to give us a gobble White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt appealed The turkey obliged Nicholas the son of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt looks at Waddle the alternate national Thanksgiving turkey in the White House press briefing room Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson Waddle the alternate national Thanksgiving turkey stands in the White House press briefing room Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Evan Vucci President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson Show Caption of Nicholas the son of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt looks at Waddle the alternate national Thanksgiving turkey in the White House press briefing room Tuesday Nov in Washington AP Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson Expand Very on message Leavitt revealed Trump used part of his ceremonial remarks to insist that the price of Thanksgiving meals was dropping under his leadership although his numbers are misleading Particular research indicates that holiday dinners could cost more this year a reminder of persistent frustration with inflation The president plans to fly south to his private Florida resort later Tuesday a holiday interlude during what has been a turbulent and uncertain chapter of his second term Trump is struggling to advance a plan to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine after an earlier version faced swift criticism from European allies and even certain Republicans The U S military is also poised to target Venezuela with military strikes part of an anti-drug operation that could ultimately destabilize the country s leadership In Washington Trump faces the possibility of a splintering Republican coalition ahead of next year s midterm elections which will determine control of Congress Specific members of his party already took the rare step of spanning the president by successfully pushing ordinance to force the Justice Department to release more documents about the Jeffrey Epstein circumstance Trump faced a setback in court this week when a federal judge tossed cases against James Comey and Letitia James two targets of the president s retribution campaign Comey a former FBI director whom Trump fired during his first term was charged with making a false message and obstructing Congress James the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms was charged with mortgage fraud Related Articles Trump allows more foreign ag workers eases off ICE raids on farms Crisp Does Trump have a tipping point Trump administration plans to review refugees admitted under Biden memo obtained by The AP says Letters Trump ignores state s tragic history with offshore drilling Trump administration plan to reduce access to various apprentice loans angers nurses wellbeing care groups Both pleaded not guilty and disclosed the prosecutions were politically motivated pointing to Trump s inhabitants demands for the Justice Department to punish his enemies The judge mentioned the interim U S attorney a former member of Trump s personal legal group who obtained the indictments was illegally appointed However the decision was made without prejudice so the Justice Department could try again to charge Comey and James The White House plans to be open for holiday tours However despite the arrival of a Christmas tree via horse-drawn carriage on Monday the presidential residence will be much different this year Trump s decision to demolish the building s East Wing to make room for a new ballroom has turned part of the White House grounds into a construction site
