President Joe Biden to Celebrate 81st Birthday by Pardoning Two Lucky Turkeys in Annual White House Tradition

On Monday, President Joe Biden will be celebrating his 81st birthday by carrying out an annual White House tradition: pardoning two lucky turkeys. The tradition of the presidential turkey pardon dates back to the 1940s, when President Harry S. Truman received a turkey as a gift from the National Turkey Federation.

This year, the two turkeys being pardoned are named Liberty and Bell. They have been staying in a room at the luxurious Willard Intercontinental Hotel, just blocks from the White House.

The turkey pardon ceremony provides a moment of levity to metaphorically roast the turkeys and D.C. politics at a time when the Biden administration is focused on the crisis in Israel and Gaza. National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Lykken said Sunday that the event is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of turkey farmers and those in the turkey industry.

The 76th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey ceremony will be celebrated on Monday. The ceremony is one of the time-honored, albeit quirky, White House traditions. It is a chance for the President to recognize the hard work of those in the turkey industry and to bring a moment of joy to the nation.