Watch: Trump Swipes Adam Schiff During Turkey Pardoning Ceremony

By
Lawrence Richard
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An annual tradition this time of the year for the president of the United States is to choose which turkeys will not be used for the White House Thanksgiving meal via the use of a presidential pardon.

Pardoned turkeys will go about their lives, undoubtedly thankful for not becoming someone’s next meal.

The turkey pardoning ceremony is a somewhat small gathering just outside the White House where the president is joined by a crowd, members of the media, and a pair of turkeys. The event is sometimes accompanied by the first lady or administration officials.

The president will usually give a brief lighthearted speech that often includes a joke or two.

Former President Bill Clinton joked that the turkey he was pardoning would be retiring in Virginia where he could “bask in the sun, collect his hard-earned pension, and enjoy his golden years.”

President Trump had a couple of jokes of his own, including a swipe on House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the man leading the presidential impeachment effort.

“Thankfully, Bread and Butter have been specially raised by the Jacksons to remain calm under any condition, which will be very important because they’ve already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff’s basement on Thursday,” he said per the Western Journal.

The president also joked that he was receiving criticisms over the turkey pardons.

“It’s true. Hundreds of people have. It seems the Democrats are accusing me of being too soft on turkey,” the president added, standing alongside First Lady Melania Trump.

Watch the turkey pardoning ceremony below:

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Turkey pardoning became an official tradition in the 1980s with President George H. W. Bush. It was born of another tradition where people would send the White House turkeys each year around Thanksgiving. Check out this White House history via the Washington Post: