Staff Reports
President Trump injected his signature flair into the annual White House Turkey Pardon ceremony on November 26, 2025, transforming the lighthearted tradition into a memorable blend of humor and pointed commentary. During the event, Trump spared two turkeys named Drumstick and Wishbone, quipping about their “lucky escape” while praising the National Guard’s role in making Washington, D.C., one of the safest cities in America. This year’s pardon came just hours before a tragic shooting near the White House targeted two Guardsmen, adding an unintended layer of gravity to Trump’s remarks about law and order.
The ceremony, a ritual dating back to George H.W. Bush in 1989, often feels like rote pageantry, but Trump elevated it with playful jabs at political opponents and nods to his administration’s security achievements. He highlighted the deployment of over 2,000 National Guard troops in the capital, crediting them with restoring safety to streets once plagued by crime under previous leadership. Such showmanship underscores Trump’s ability to blend tradition with timely messaging, keeping audiences engaged rather than bored.
Amid the holiday cheer, social media lit up with predictable outrage from progressive critics labeling Thanksgiving itself as problematic or insensitive to Native American history. These “woke warriors” decry the feast as cultural appropriation, ignoring that indigenous tribes engaged in similar harvest celebrations and diplomacy long before European settlers arrived. This annual virtue-signaling ritual attempts to guilt-trip Americans out of enjoying family gatherings, pie, and football, revealing a disconnect from the holiday’s roots in gratitude and survival.
Viral content on platforms like TikTok amplifies the nonsense, offering “survival guides” for dodging the stereotypical “racist uncle” at dinner—assuming every family fits that caricature. In reality, Thanksgiving thrives as a unifying American tradition, fostering real conversations across differences rather than manufactured division. Conservatives rightly push back against efforts to politicize and dismantle these customs, reminding everyone that the holiday celebrates abundance, resilience, and shared heritage.
Trump’s lively pardon ceremony offers a refreshing counterpoint to the scolds, proving that humor and patriotism can coexist without apology. As families gather this season, embracing the feast’s joys over petty grievances strengthens the nation. In an era of endless cultural battles, holding onto traditions like this one keeps America grounded and grateful.
