Trump Jokes Biden’s Turkey Pardons Were Invalid Due to Autopen Use

President Donald Trump continued the decades-old White House Thanksgiving tradition Tuesday by pardoning two turkeys, but not before delivering a characteristically pointed jab at his predecessor’s approach to the ceremonial duty.

The facts are straightforward. Trump pardoned “Gobble” and “Waddle,” two North Carolina-raised turkeys weighing over 50 pounds each, making them the largest birds ever to receive presidential pardons. But the real story emerged when Trump declared that former President Joe Biden’s turkey pardons from last year were “null and void” because Biden used an autopen rather than signing the pardons personally.

Let’s be clear about what happened here. Trump, demonstrating his trademark sense of humor, announced that after “a thorough and very rigorous investigation” by Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and the White House Counsel’s Office, he had determined that last year’s pardons of turkeys “Peach” and “Blossom” were “totally invalid.”

The crowd understood the joke. Trump claimed he had located the previously pardoned turkeys and stopped them from being “processed” just in time, extending them new, presumably valid, pardons. “They will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner,” Trump declared. “We saved them in the nick of time.”

Now, the underlying point here is actually worth examining. Biden’s use of autopens throughout his presidency became a legitimate controversy, particularly regarding official documents and legislation. While Trump was clearly joking about turkey pardons, the broader issue of presidential signature authenticity is not trivial. The Constitution requires the president’s signature on legislation. An autopen is a mechanical device that replicates a signature without the president physically signing the document.

The turkey pardoning tradition itself dates back decades, with presidents from both parties participating in what has become a lighthearted pre-Thanksgiving photo opportunity. This year’s ceremony featured turkeys selected through a poll conducted by First Lady Melania Trump on social media, demonstrating the administration’s engagement with public input, even on ceremonial matters.

According to a National Turkey Federation spokeswoman, Waddle and Gobble will relocate to North Carolina State University following their pardons, where they will serve as “turkey ambassadors” for the poultry industry. This continues the tradition of pardoned turkeys living out their days in educational settings rather than on dinner tables.

The ceremony showcased Trump’s ability to blend tradition with his characteristic communication style. He maintained the ceremonial dignity expected of the office while simultaneously delivering political commentary wrapped in humor. Whether one finds such jokes appropriate or not, they represent Trump’s consistent approach to public appearances: never missing an opportunity to critique his predecessor, even during ostensibly non-political events.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt even brought her son Nicholas to meet one of the turkeys in the press briefing room before the ceremony, adding a family-friendly element to the proceedings.

The bottom line is this: Trump pardoned two turkeys, maintained a White House tradition, and managed to criticize Biden’s autopen usage simultaneously. That is vintage Trump, for better or worse, depending on one’s perspective. The turkeys are safe, the tradition continues, and the political commentary never stops.

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