“By accepting their pardons, the turkeys are admitting guilt”
The U.S. president pardons turkeys at Thanksgiving, but were the turkeys ever really guilty of anything?
“By accepting the pardon, the turkeys admitted their guilt” was posted on X/Twitter by Lawyer Cat* on November 24, 2022, and this received over 3,200 likes. “by accepting their pardons the turkeys are admitting guilt” was posted on X/Twitter by Liz Charboneau on November 25, 2024, and this received over 33,000 likes.
“I consider myself a moral person. That’s why I only eat turkeys that have exhausted appeals,” “Most pardoned turkeys end up back in the system” and “Reminder that they can’t pardon the turkey for state level crimes” are related jokes about turkey pardons.
Wikipedia: National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation
The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a ceremony that takes place at the White House every year shortly before Thanksgiving. The president of the United States is presented with a live domestic turkey by the National Turkey Federation (NTF), usually a male of the Broad Breasted White variety. The early years also included a joint presentation with the Poultry and Egg National Board.
The ceremony dates back to the 1940s; these turkeys were usually slaughtered and eaten, with some exceptions, prior to the 1970s, when it became standard practice to spare the turkey. During the presidency of George H. W. Bush, it became a tradition. All presidents since Bush have issued a ceremonial “pardon” to the turkey.
X/Twitter
Emily 🦋
@EmilyMc_Pye
While I like that turkeys’ lives are saved by Presidential pardons, I disagree with it being called a “pardon.” The turkeys have done nothing wrong. It isn’t their fault that people want to eat them. The guilt lies with their consumers.
9:59 PM · Nov 19, 2017
X/Twitter
Just Paul
@thatpaulmoffett
Not to put too fine a point on it, but turkeys are not guilty. But the language of pardon surrounding the turkey implies guilt. In other words, it implicitly suggests that all the other turkey are justly executed for their crimes. (8)
11:13 AM · Nov 24, 2017
X/Twitter
Lawyer Cat*
@LawyerCat_
By accepting the pardon, the turkeys admitted their guilt
Quote
CNN Politics
@CNNPolitics
Nov 24, 2022
Ahead of Thanksgiving, President Joe Biden pardoned turkeys Chocolate and Chip at the annual White House event https://cnn.it/3i9DbMa
10:20 AM · Nov 24, 2022
X/Twitter
Steve Goldstein
@MKTWgoldstein
How do the turkeys admit their guilt (as to qualify for the pardons)
9:25 AM · Nov 20, 2023
Bluesky
zacky
@lawfulwawful.bsky.social
The turkeys’ acceptance of a pardon is an admission of guilt for their many crimes.
Nov 20, 2023, 3:36 PM
X/Twitter
CFLPhinsFan
@CFLPhinsFan
Remember that when the turkeys accept their pardons that they are also admitting their guilt of being turkeys.
11:14 AM · Nov 25, 2024
X/Twitter
Liz Charboneau
@lizchar
by accepting their pardons the turkeys are admitting guilt
11:18 AM · Nov 25, 2024
Bluesky
Andy-isms
@kearneybear.bsky.social
By accepting their pardons the turkeys are admitting guilt
Nov 26, 2024, 8:17 AM