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Tuesday 21 November 2023
Biden pardons National Thanksgiving Turkeys while marking his 81st

birthday with jokes about his age

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE fore the event sang “Hap- appreciation of the word,
Associated Press py Birthday.” “I just want ‘let freedom ring,’” he said,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tur- you to know, it’s difficult adding that they love Hon-
keys Liberty and Bell have turning 60. Difficult.” eycrisp apples, ice hockey,
new appreciation for the He also noted that the a thousand lakes and the
phrase, “Let freedom ring.” presentation of a National Mall of America — all things
The Thanksgiving birds Thanksgiving Turkey to the the Midwest state is famous
played their part Monday White House has been a for.
in annual White House tra- tradition for more than sev- They overcame “some
dition that this year coin- en decades. tough odds” to make it to
cided with President Joe “This is the 76th anniversary the White House, Biden
Biden ‘s 81st birthday: a of this event, and I want continued, saying “they
president issuing a pardon you to know I wasn’t there had to work hard to show
and sparing them from be- .. for the first one,” Biden patience and be willing
coming someone’s holiday said. The Democrat’s age to travel over a thousand
dinner. has become an issue as he miles.” He suggested their President Joe Biden stands next to Liberty, one of the two
First, Biden — the oldest seeks reelection next year. feat probably was harder national Thanksgiving turkeys, after pardoning them during a
president in U.S. history — Before issuing the pardons, than getting a ticket to ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,
wanted to make light of his Biden said that although Beyonce’s Renaissance Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Also pictured is Jennie-O Turkey Store
age. Liberty and Bell are Min- Tour or “Britney’s tour, she’s Vice President Jose Rojas, left. Associated Press
“By the way, it’s my birth- nesota natives, they were down in, it’s kind of warm in
day today,” the president named for the Liberty Bell Brazil right now.” He appar- Brazil over the weekend for checked into a suite there
said, noting that guests with in Philadelphia. ently mixed up his female her Eras Tour; Britney Spears on Saturday following their
him in the Oval Office be- “These birds have a new pop stars; Taylor Swift was in currently is not on tour. red-carpet arrival in the U.S.
“Look folks, based on their capital after a dayslong
commitment to being pro- road trip from Minnesota in
ductive members of soci- a black Cadillac Escalade.
ety as they head to their “They were raised like all of
new home at the University our turkeys, protected, of
of Minnesota ... I hereby course, from weather ex-
pardon Liberty and Bell. tremes and predators, free
Congratulations, birds!” to walk about with con-
Biden declared. stant access to water and
Hundreds of guests, includ- feed,” Lykken said Sunday
ing Cabinet secretaries as Liberty and Bell strutted
and White House staff who around the Willard’s newly
brought children, watched renovated Crystal Room on
from the South Lawn as plastic sheeting laid over
Biden kicked off the unof- the carpet.
ficial start of Washington’s The male turkeys, both
holiday season. His grand- about 20 weeks old and
daughter Maisy Biden about 42 pounds (19 kilo-
watched from the sidelines grams), were hatched in
with her half-brother Beau July in Willmar, Minnesota
Biden. After the ceremony, — Jennie-O is headquar-
Beau was led over to pet tered there — as part of the
one of the turkeys. “presidential flock,” Lykken
Later Monday, Biden’s wife, said. They listened to music
first lady Jill Biden, was ac- and other sounds to pre-
cepting the delivery of pare them for Monday’s
an 18.5-foot (5.6-meter) hoopla at the White House.
Fraser fir from Fleetwood, “They listened to all kinds of
North Carolina, as the offi- music to get ready for the
cial White House Christmas crowds and people along
tree. the way. I can confirm
Steve Lykken, chairman of they are, in fact, Swifties,
the National Turkey Feder- and they do enjoy some
ation and president of the Prince,” Lykken said, mean-
Jennie-O Turkey Store, told ing Liberty and Bell are fans
The Associated Press in an of Swift. “I think they’re ab-
interview last week that the solutely ready for prime
pardons are a “great way time.”
to kick off the holiday sea- The tradition dates to 1947
son and really, really a fun when the National Turkey
honor.” Federation, which repre-
Lykken introduced Liber- sents turkey farmers and
ty and Bell on Sunday at producers, first presented a
the Willard Intercontinen- National Thanksgiving Tur-
tal, a luxury hotel near the key to President Harry Tru-
White House. The gobblers man. q