Thanksgiving tradition: These are some of the names of the White House turkeys pardoned by U.S. presidents

Every year before Thanksgiving, a quirky ceremony unfolds in Washington, D.C.: the President of the United States “pardons” one (or two) live turkeys, sparing them from becoming the holiday dinner.

It is a light-hearted tradition with roots stretching back just decades; over time, those lucky birds have been granted delightfully imaginative names.

The modern tradition of presenting turkeys to the White House only began in the mid-20th century. It is commonly believed that in 1947, President Harry S. Truman became the first president to officially pardon a turkey, but that appears to be untrue. There is no evidence that he did so, save for some photos next to a bird.

When was the first turkey pardoned by the president?

It wasn’t until 1989, under President George H.W. Bush, that the pardon was officially declared. According to the National Turkey Federation (yes, that’s a real thing), he said: “Our special guest seems ... understandably nervous, 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 ...”

Since then, dozens of turkeys have enjoyed a reprieve. Here are their names:

• Charlie (1987) — President Reagan’s turkey, famously “pardoned” in a joking manner.
• Harry (1999) — Pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
• Jerry (2000) — Another Clinton bird, who shared the spotlight.
• Liberty and Freedom (2001) — George W. Bush’s first officially pardoned pair, shortly after the September 11 attacks.
• Katie and Zack (2002) — Notable for being one of the first female turkeys pardoned.
• Stars and Stripes (2003) — A patriotic duo under Bush.
• Biscuits and Gravy (2004) — A proper comfort-food pair.
• Marshmallow and Yam (2005) — Unusual, sweet-sounding names for poultry.
• Courage and Carolina (2009) — Pardoned by Barack Obama.
• Apple and Cider (2010) — Another tasty-themed pair from Obama’s presidency.
• Tater and Tot (2016) — A nod to classic side dishes.
• Drumstick and Wishbone (2017) — Pardoned by President Donald Trump.
• Peas and Carrots (2018) — Yes, like your vegetables.
• Butter and Bread (2019) — Another Trump-era pairing.
• Peanut Butter and Jelly (2021) — Pardoned by President Joe Biden.
• Chocolate and Chip (2022) — A sweet twist from Biden’s second year.
• Liberty and Bell (2023) — Names chosen during Biden’s term.
• Peach and Blossom (2024) — The most recent duo, reflecting Delaware’s state flower (Biden’s home state).

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For 2025, Donald Trump has really sat the First Lady at the back of the class with the safety scissors and glitter. Melania has invited the public to vote on the names of the two turkeys destined for this year’s presidential pardon. The options included pairs such as “Sugar and Spice”, “Pumpkin and Pie”, “Gobble and Waddle” and “Acorn and Squash”.

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