Biden's Turkey Pardon: 'No Ballot Stuffing,' 'the Only Red Wave' and 'More Chickens Than Anybody' (November 21, 2022)

The day after he became the first president to turn 80 in office, President Joe Biden stood on the South Lawn to pardon two turkeys [1][2]. Midway through, he gave a shout-out to his grandchildren. “And by the way, that’s my grandson Beau up there and my granddaughter. Don’t let him jump,” Biden said [1].

The granddaughter was Naomi Biden, according to a note in the official transcript [1]. She had married Peter Neal at the White House two days earlier, Fox News reported [2].

The video above shows that moment from the Nov. 21, 2022, Thanksgiving turkey presentation. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Watch Me”

A month earlier, Biden had told voters to judge his age for themselves. “I think it’s a legitimate thing to be concerned about anyone’s age, including mine. That’s totally legitimate. But I think the best way to make the judgment is to, you know, watch me. Am I slowing up?” Biden told MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, Fox News reported [2].

”The Only Red Wave”

Biden then joked about the midterms. “First of all, the votes are in. They’ve been counted and verified. There’s no ballot stuffing. There’s no fowl play,” he said [1].

“The only red wave this season is going to be a German Shepherd, Commander, knocks over the cranberry sauce on our table,” Biden said [1].

Republicans had won the House, though. Five days earlier, Fox News reported that “Republicans have secured a majority in the House of Representatives when the 118th U.S. Congress convenes next January.” The GOP had “won 218 seats after The Associated Press projected that Republican Mike Garcia will win re-election in California’s 27th Congressional District” [3].

Biden himself had already “congratulated Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for his party’s victory,” Fox reported [3].

”Another Flock”

Biden also joked about the birds’ training. “They listened to a lot of music, I’m told, in order to prepare for the crowd noise today,” he said. “And they interacted with the children to show their softer side. Sounds like another flock hoping to come to Washington in 2024” [1].

”More Chickens Than Anybody in the Nation”

As an aide suggested putting the turkeys on a table, Biden bragged about his home state. “We have more chickens than anybody in the Nation in Delaware, but we don’t have turkeys,” he said [1].

The Agriculture Department’s broiler numbers say otherwise. In 2021, Georgia raised 1,298,900,000 broilers, the most of any state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Alabama raised 1,171,600,000 and Arkansas 1,051,300,000 [4].

Delaware raised 222,400,000. That put it 13th among the states the agency lists by name, behind neighboring Maryland at 259,900,000 [4].

”Like Some of the Countries I’ve Been To”

Biden asked the farmer how many turkeys he raises. “Circle S Ranch grows about 9½ million turkeys a year,” said Ronnie Parker, chairman of the National Turkey Federation [1].

“God love you. Nine and a half million turkeys. I tell you what. That’s like some of the countries I’ve been to,” Biden said [1].

”Chocolate Is My Favorite”

The birds were named Chocolate and Chip. “Of course, Chocolate is my favorite—Chocolate is my favorite ice cream, so I—but I could have—we could have named them CHIPS and Science, but anyway,” Biden said [1].

Biden said “Chip weighs 47, and he loves barbeque and basketball, I’m told.” Both birds, he said, “are going to head to the Nation’s great basketball schools and research universities, North Carolina State” [1].

He then made the pardon official. “And now, based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society, I hereby pardon—I hereby pardon——” Biden said, before a turkey gobbled. “I hereby pardon Chocolate and Chip. Which one is Chocolate? And who’s Chip?” [1]

He also used the moment for a vaccine pitch. “We have new COVID vaccine updates to deal with new variants to protect you and your loved ones. So get it today,” Biden said. “Please visit vaccines.gov” [1].

”Friendsgiving”

Biden closed with plans for the rest of the day. “Later today Jill and I are going to be flying down to North Carolina—to Cherry Point, North Carolina—for a ‘friendsgiving,’ where we’ll be serving Thanksgiving dinner to troops and military families,” he said [1].

He ended with Scripture: “Let us rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances” [1].

By the Numbers

80: Biden’s age, the first president to reach it in office [2].
218: House seats Republicans had won five days before the “only red wave” joke [3].
222,400,000: broilers Delaware raised in 2021 [4].
1,298,900,000: broilers Georgia raised the same year [4].
13th: Delaware’s rank among the states USDA lists by name [4].
9.5 million: turkeys a year at the farm that raised Chocolate and Chip [1].

What Happened Next

The 2024 flock. Biden did not make it to the ballot. On July 21, 2024, he wrote: “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term” [5].

Trump won the White House. President Donald Trump won 312 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 226, according to the National Archives [6].

The new House got to work. For how Biden watched the new Republican majority pick its speaker, see HYGO News’ page on the speaker fight.