Turkey pardon: Donald Trump jokes about elections as he spares national Thanksgiving birds

Before pardon, turkey visits White House briefing room

Donald Trump has used the annual presidential Thanksgiving turkey pardon to take a swipe at a number of issues that have irritated him in recent weeks.

Mr Trump's poultry pardon means the two turkeys — a 39-pound bird named Peas, who was officially chosen as the national Thanksgiving turkey, and a 41-pounder named Carrots — will get to live the rest of their lives at Virginia Tech university. Both were raised on a farm near Huron, South Dakota.

First Lady Melania Trump joined her husband for the act of mercy carried out during a light-hearted ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.

However, Mr Trump could not help taking a dig at the current state of Washington.

“That turkey is so lucky. I've never seen such a beautiful turkey,” Mr. Trump said of Peas. The president joked about the decision alluding to close recounts in the recent Florida governor and Senate races, which Republicans ultimately won.

“Unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede, and called for a recount,” Mr Trump said.

He also joked that Peas and Carrots would be issued subpoenas by House Democrats, amid reports that the party could launch a number of investigations into the Trump administration now that it controls the House of Representatives.

Mr Trump also said that his pardons of the turkeys would be subject to a decision by the 9th Circuit Court, which has often ruled against Mr Trump's policies.

To see who the evnt unfolded, follow our live updates below

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[20 November 2018 17:03 · Chris Stevenson]

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the official presidential pardoning of the National Thanksgiving turkey.

[20 November 2018 17:06 · Chris Stevenson]

This year's selections are Peas and Carrots. One will be officially pardoned by President Donald Trump.

A poll run by the White House asking people to pick their choice is currently split 50-50.

 

[20 November 2018 17:06 · Chris Stevenson]

This year’s selections Peas and Carrots traveled to Washington DC from South Dakota. The Presidential Flock of 50 turkeys was hatched in July, and Peas and Carrots were selected to come to the White House to become the National Thanksgiving Turkey and the other its alternate.

[20 November 2018 17:11 · Chris Stevenson]

They were raised on a farm near Huron under the supervision of National Turkey Federation Chairman Jeff Sveen and by turkey grower Ruben Waldner.

[20 November 2018 17:14 · Chris Stevenson]

Upon arrival in Washington, Peas and Carrots rested at The Willard Hotel, adjacent to the White House grounds.

[20 November 2018 17:17 · Chris Stevenson]

Here are some pictures of Peas and Carrots "enjoying" their hotel room.

Peas and Carrots, at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC 

[20 November 2018 17:19 · Chris Stevenson]

Carrots stroll into their room at the Willard Hotel 

[20 November 2018 17:25 · Chris Stevenson]

Here is an explainer of the Turkey pardoning:

[20 November 2018 17:31 · Chris Stevenson]

One of the birds was taken into the press briefing room at the White House a little earlier.

From the pool report:

At 11:29 a.m. a live turkey was brought into the press briefing room, accompanied by handler Jeff Sveen who is also chairman of the National Turkey Federation.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters declined to say whether the bird was "Peas" or "Carrots." She noted that online voting had just concluded to determine which bird President Trump will "pardon" at 1:00 p.m. in the Rose Garden.

"We're not telling you which one this is," Ms Walters said.

[20 November 2018 17:37 · Chris Stevenson]

After the pardoning, Peas and Carrots will be heading to Virginia:

The turkeys will make the journey to their new home at Virginia Tech’s “Gobblers Rest” exhibit in Blacksburg, Virginia. At Gobbler’s Rest, students and veterinarians within Virginia Tech’s Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences care for the turkeys. The National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate are available for the public to visit and learn about the university’s teaching, research and outreach programs in animal and poultry sciences and veterinary medicine.