National Thanksgiving Turkeys Gobble and Waddle pardoned by President Trump

26 November 2025

2 minute read

By: Sarah Mikesell

North America

National Turkey Federation (NTF) Chairman Jay Jandrain, president and CEO of Butterball, LLC, presented the National Thanksgiving Turkeys named Gobble and Waddle to President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday during the 78th National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. 

"Standing at the White House with President Trump to represent America's turkey industry is truly an honor," said Jandrain. "From farmers like the Pittman family who raise the birds, to the processors and everyone else who plays a part to get turkey to tables, this industry runs on people who care deeply about what they do. We're extremely proud to feed families across the country and around the world. Today celebrates that mission, but it's the dedication shown every day of the year that really matters."

The 2025 National Thanksgiving Turkeys were raised in Kenly, North Carolina, by Butterball contract grower Travis Pittman in coordination with Jandrain and the Butterball live operations team. Gobble and Waddle weigh 52 and 50lbs. respectively.

Travis and his wife Amanda own and operate two turkey farms in central North Carolina for Butterball -- Nahunta Community Farm and New Horizon Farm. The Pittman family, including one-year-old son, Carter, prepared the turkeys for their White House debut, ensuring they were comfortable with crowds, cameras and handling.

During their time in Washington, D.C., the turkeys stayed at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel. 

"On behalf of the First Lady and the entire Trump family, I want to wish all Americans a very, very happy Thanksgiving. It's a great time of the year and our country's doing really well economically like we've never done before," said President Trump. "Today we continue a time-honored American tradition. In a few moments, I will grant a full absolute and unconditional presidential pardon to two handsome Thanksgiving turkeys. And this is their lucky day."

Following a presidential pardon on Tuesday, "Gobble" and "Waddle" have returned to their home state of North Carolina for retirement. Their new home at NC State University’s Talley Turkey Education Unit promises state-of-the-art biosecure living quarters and a few opportunities to strut their stuff at local education events.

NTF’s participation in the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation began in 1947 with President Harry Truman. It has continued for 78 years across 14 successive administrations.

History

According to White House historians, the tradition of “pardoning” White House turkeys has been traced to President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 clemency to a turkey recorded in an 1865 dispatch by White House reporter Noah Brooks, who noted, “a live turkey had been brought home for the Christmas dinner, but [Lincoln’s son Tad] interceded in behalf of its life. . . . [Tad’s] plea was admitted and the turkey’s life spared.”
 

More recently White House mythmakers have claimed that President Harry S. Truman began this holiday tradition. However, Truman, when he received the turkeys, and subsequent presidents did not “pardon” their birds. The formalities of pardoning a turkey gelled by 1989, when President George H.W. Bush remarked, “Reprieve,” “keep him going,” or “pardon”: it’s all the same for the turkey, as long as he doesn’t end up on the president’s holiday table.

The White House Presentation signals the beginning of the holiday season of national thanks, historically representing agriculture’s bountiful harvest. The presentation also highlights the contributions of America’s turkey growers as well as the important role of agriculture in modern America.
 

Video and images courtesy of The White House and the National Turkey Federation