Joe Biden Issues Whimsical Thanksgiving Pardon

The president ushers in the holiday season during South Lawn traditional ceremony for the last time.

President Joe Biden pardons Peach, the National Thanksgiving Turkey, alongside Chair of the National Turkey Federation John Zimmerman and his son Grant during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday. The sparing of the wattle adorned gobbling poultry became tradition in 1989 when US President George H.W. Bush said, “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 granted a Presidential pardon as of right now” and every U.S. president since then has continued the act of mercy. (Photo by DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)

Under sunny skies on the South Lawn of the White House Monday morning, President Joe Biden, for the last time, honored the decades-old White House tradition of pardoning two turkeys.

The president was joined by a crowd of about 2,500 for the event that marks the official start of the holiday season in Washington, D.C.

From the podium, Biden welcomed Minnesota-grown tur…