By Hollie SilvermanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump said during a speech at the White House Turkey Pardon ceremony Tuesday that he'd like to lose some weight but was unlikely to during Thanksgiving.
The event, held at the White House and attended by members of the Trump family, administration officials, and invited guests, also featured the pardoning of two record-sized turkeys named Gobble and Waddle, which Trump noted as being among the heaviest ever presented to a president.
In his speech, Trump also touched on a series of current issues, including ICE enforcement, crime in American cities, and an ongoing spat with Chicago and leaders of the city and state, including Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker.
The president went from speaking about Pritzker, saying he wouldn't joke about the Governor's weight, to talking about his own weight.
"I'd like to lose a few pounds too, by the way, and I'm not going to lose it on Thanksgiving," the President said, adding, "I can tell you that, because I'm going to have a turkey, but it's not going to be that one."
During this year's ceremony, Trump also announced that the turkeys being pardoned are the first ever officially certified "Maha" turkeys.
Why It Matters
Trump's health has been subject to consistent public attention throughout his political career.
Official White House physicals during his presidency generally reported him in good health, though he has frequently commented publicly about his weight and fitness, sometimes in jest.
At past turkey pardon ceremonies, Trump has blended references to the birds' size with jokes about himself—for example, joking about “big birds” and even asking handlers about the turkey’s weight before making remarks.
...What To Know
The presidential turkey pardon is a longstanding American tradition combining political ceremony with seasonal festivity.
This year, Trump emphasized the size of the turkeys brought before him, joking about their, and by extension, his own weight, eliciting laughter from the crowd in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday.
"These are two of the largest turkeys ever presented to an American president, over 50 pounds each. It's the largest we've ever had. Those are big turkeys," Trump quipped during the ceremony. "Are they as good as the normal-sized turkey—better, or as good? Do they tend to be a little fatty? Maybe?"
The event also introduced the term "Maha" to describe the turkeys, with Trump himself playfully questioning its meaning, remarking, "Secretary Kennedy has formally certified that these are the first ever 'Maha' turkeys," Trump said, adding, "I don't know if I agree with that. These are Maha—in other words, they could be fat, but they're still Maha."
Trump commented, "They've been fattened on a steady diet of grass, beef, to allow the smoothies and all of the other things that they've been eating for this occasion. This was a really big occasion, but they've eaten every fattening food that you can eat. We work like we wanted to really make them special. And they really are. They're record-setting. I've never seen a turkey that big before."
Speaking about Gobble and Waddle, Trump said he suggested naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy, referring to Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, adding that if that were the case, they wouldn't be pardoned.
The president also said that former President Joe Biden's Turkey pardons were invalid because of his use of an autopen.
Why Does the President Pardon a Turkey?
The tradition of presenting a turkey to the president dates back to 1947, when the National Turkey Federation first gifted a Thanksgiving bird to President Harry Truman.
However, the practice of granting an official pardon was formalized under President George H.W. Bush in 1989.
The symbolic act spares the birds from being served for Thanksgiving dinner, and since then, each president has upheld the tradition as a light-hearted fixture of the holiday season.
What Does it Mean to Pardon a Turkey?
Pardoning a turkey is a ceremonial gesture whereby the president spares select turkeys from becoming Thanksgiving meals.
The event typically showcases American agricultural traditions and offers an opportunity for presidential humor.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said at the Turkey Pardoning Ceremony on Tuesday: "I had a little bit of a Pritzker joke. I was going to talk about Pritzker in size, but when I talk about Pritzker, I get angry because he's not letting us do the job. So I'm not going to tell my Pritzker joke. They have a very cute little joke. Some speech writer wrote some joke about his weight, but I would never want to talk about his weight. I don't talk about people being fat. I refuse to talk about the fact that he's a fat slob. I don't mention it. On a more serious note as we gather around the dinner table. I'd like to lose a few pounds too, by the way, and I'm not going to lose it on Thanksgiving. I can tell you that, because I'm going to have a turkey, but it's not going to be that one."
What Happens Next
After the ceremony, the pardoned turkeys are often housed at educational institutions or farms, serving as "ambassadors" for the poultry industry.
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