The Complicated History Of The Turkey Pardon

President Donald Trump stood before two turkeys and a crowd on Wednesday.

Gobble and Waddle were pardoned at the White House after Americans casted their vote online to decide which turkeys would receive the coveted pardon. (RELATED: Trump Says He Saved Turkeys From Being Deported To Notorious Foreign Prison In Hilarious Moment)

Now a beloved tradition Americans can weigh in on, the White House turkey pardon only officially dates back about 35 years, although its origins can be traced back to former President Abraham Lincoln’s administration.

The first official turkey pardon was in 1989 under former President George H.W. Bush, but the event had become an annual tradition years prior, according to the White House Historical Association.

“But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy—he’s presented a Presidential pardon as of right now—and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here,” Bush said at the first official pardon.

🚨 TRUMP roasts Biden: “He used the autopen last year for the turkey’s pardon. So, I have the official duty to determine and I have determined that last year’s turkey pardons are totally invalid.” pic.twitter.com/8a8rURDHV3

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 25, 2025

Gobble & Waddle living their best life.

🇺🇸 Don’t miss the Presidential Turkey Pardon — 12 PM EST! pic.twitter.com/YwCtCdn3Mz

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 25, 2025

Long before the first turkey was officially pardoned, America’s presidents were sparing the animal ahead of Thanksgiving —just not with an official White House order. That tradition is thanks to Lincoln’s youngest son, Tad.

In 1863, President Lincoln was presented with a turkey for his family’s Christmas feast, but his 8-year-old son Tad is said to have intervened and begged his dad to spare the bird which was named Jack, the Smithsonian Magazine reported. Tad adopted the turkey as a pet, and when Lincoln told his son it was time for the bird to be killed, the young boy attempted to convince his father, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

“Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten for this very Christmas,” Lincoln told Tad.

“I can’t help it. He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed,” Tad responded.

Tad’s persuasion worked, and Lincoln wrote a reprieve for the turkey on a card and gave it to his son, the outlet reported.

Other presidents had spared turkeys prior to Bush, but none issued an official pardon.

Former President Ronald Reagan was the first president to use the word “pardon” when he spared a turkey named Charlie during his presidency, according to Time Magazine. Reagan made the reference because he was trying to pivot from the Iran-Contra scandal and a question on whether he would pardon Oliver North and John Poindexter.

“If they’d given me a different answer on Charlie and his future, I would have pardoned him,” Reagan said, according to the outlet.

Two turkeys are traveling Tuesday from the posh Willard Hotel to the White House, becoming the latest turkeys to be pardoned by an American president in a tradition that officially dates back to President George H.W. Bush.

The history of White House Thanksgiving traditions date… pic.twitter.com/PWjZ6yntMg

— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) November 25, 2025

Peach & Blossom are officially the 2024 National Thanksgiving Turkeys! 🦃🍂 NTF Chairman John Zimmerman & his son, Grant, carried on this beloved 77-year tradition today at the @WhiteHouse with @POTUS. Next, these famous fowl will enjoy retirement back home in MN at @Farmamerica. pic.twitter.com/7WBFjZ5NhC

— National Turkey Federation (@natlturkeyfed) November 25, 2024

Former President John F. Kennedy announced that he would spare a turkey brought to the White House for their Thanksgiving dinner, Smithsonian Magazine wrote. The newspapers at the time called the move a “pardon,” though once again nothing was official.

Some believe the turkey pardon began with former President Harry Truman, who was presented with a turkey during a ceremony at the White House, according to Smithsonian Magazine. However, there is no evidence suggesting he spared the turkeys. Former President Dwight Eisenhower ate the eight turkeys presented to him by the National Turkey Federation throughout his administration.

Presidents have stood at the White House with their Thanksgiving turkeys for years, but official presidential pardons have only become an official tradition over the past few decades.

“Through it all, they stayed calm, and they gobbled on and are still gobbling,” Biden said while pardoning two turkeys in 2024.