President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pardoned two turkeys, Waddle and Gobble, which had been named by the American public. The ceremony took place at the White House on 25/11, marking a cherished annual tradition held before Thanksgiving.

President Trump lightheartedly commented on Gobble's apparent joy, adding that Waddle's "whereabouts are unknown, but we can pretend it's here". Waddle had previously made an appearance in the White House press briefing room.

Before their pardon, Waddle and Gobble enjoyed a stay at the Willard InterContinental hotel in Washington. Following the ceremony, the National Turkey Federation will transport them to North Carolina, where they will reside and be cared for at the Prestage Department of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University.

During the event, President Trump also playfully suggested that the pardons granted to turkeys Peach and Blossom by his predecessor, Joe Biden, last year were invalid because Biden used an autopen. He joked, "turkeys Peach and Blossom were found on their way to the slaughterhouse, but I intervened in time and pardoned them too".

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pardoned turkeys at the White House on 25/11. Photo: AP

Trump extended his humor to political rivals, representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He quipped that he initially considered naming the turkeys after them but realized he would "never pardon those names".

The White House turkey pardon ceremony began in 1947 under President Harry Truman. It was later established as an annual tradition by President George H. W. Bush in 1989.

Ngoc Anh (According to AP, ABC, NBC)