The Internet Has Feelings About Trump's Presidential Turkey Pardon
Tuesday was Drumstick’s lucky day, as the 47-pound turkey was bestowed with an official presidential pardon from President Donald Trump in the White House’s Rose Garden.
Visitors and press assembled hours before the big moment, curious if the honor would go to Drumstick or his poultry compatriot, Wishbone, who had also been sent to Washington, D.C. for the annual occasion. The two turkeys enjoyed an evening at a local four-star hotel thanks to their sponsors, the National Turkey Federation, and spent the moments before the pardoning getting serenaded by a band and visiting the White House briefing room.
The White House put it up to an online poll to see which of the two would receive the ultimate on-air honor; 60% of the votes went to Drumstick.
Both of the birds, however, will now head off to Virginia Tech’s “Gobbler’s Rest” to live out the rest of their days in slaughter-free peace. But the internet has plenty to say about this year’s pardoning shenanigans, regardless of the outcome — including Trump’s jokes about Obama’s own pardon last year (to Tater and Tot).
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump pardons Drumstick in the Rose Garden at @WhiteHouse with @FLOTUS Melania and Baron. #TurkeyPardon???? pic.twitter.com/2kcmFNpV5P
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) November 21, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump literally just said on live TV that he's been told he can't overturn @BarackObama 's turkey pardon from last year so, don't worry, those turkeys are safe.
— Sam accidentally (@smpage) November 21, 2017
Drumstick: [leans in to the mic]
On the advice of counsel I invoke my 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and refuse to take any questions.— Brian Chiglinsky (@chiglinsky) November 21, 2017
Look, I am all for pardoning all the turkeys, but I will recognize one and only one animal named Wishbone: pic.twitter.com/pDuVsH0dvh
— Danielle Evans (@daniellevalore) November 21, 2017
If that turkey forgets to thank Trump for the pardon, it’ll go back to the chopping block.
— Utah Bug (@utahbug) November 21, 2017
Trump says WH counsel informs him that Obama's pardons of Tater and Tot "cannot be revoked."
— Pete Wells (@pete_wells) November 21, 2017
what do we have to look forward to now
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) November 21, 2017
Now for the ritual slaughtering of the unpardoned Turkey and the festival of blood.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) November 21, 2017
If BOTH Wishbone and Drumstick get the pardon from POTUS who is the lucky unfortunate one that gets the honors of being the main course at the WH dinner table?
— Thomas Jon Harrison (@ThomasJonHarris) November 21, 2017