U.S. presidents have been “pardoning” turkeys since 1989 when George H.W. Bush first spared the White House turkey from the Thanksgiving table.
And so, this week Donald Trump carried on the tradition with all the pomp and ceremony one might expect of a National Thanksgiving Turkey pardon.
The North Carolina raised turkeys, named Bread and Butter, were first treated to some posh digs at the Willard Hotel.
Just a couple of turkey friends making plans to meet up later at @virginia_tech! #PresidentialTurkey pic.twitter.com/v7FfYJeuRR
— National Turkey Federation (@natlturkeyfed) November 25, 2019
The room was even outfitted with sawdust.
President @realDonaldTrump today carried on the time-honored presidential tradition of presenting—and for the past 30 years, pardoning—the National Thanksgiving Turkey! pic.twitter.com/g7u0sQELOY
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 27, 2019
School kids named the turkeys and then people got to vote on who gets to, well, keep their head.
Butter won by a feather.
In perhaps the closest turkey pardon contest in White House history, Butter won over Americans’ hearts by a slim margin, taking 50.3% of the vote.
A White House Thanksgiving tradition turns 30: https://t.co/A68ueVC88u pic.twitter.com/f0tZzCnvmb
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 27, 2019
And your 2019 National Thanksgiving Turkey is…
BUTTER!
He and his alternate, Bread, will be heading to @virginia_tech‘s Gobblers Rest where students and veterinarians will care for them! pic.twitter.com/T0Dr0WBIe6
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 26, 2019
It’s official, the 2019 National Thanksgiving Turkey is Butter! Welcome to the flock.#HappyThanksgiving #PresidentialTurkey pic.twitter.com/3yEaZ3cJCk
— National Turkey Federation (@natlturkeyfed) November 26, 2019
Don’t fret too much about Bread.
He’s not headed for the chopping block, either.
Butter received the title of 2019 National Thanksgiving Turkey today at the @WhiteHouse. But don’t worry — losing the title didn’t get a ~rise~ out of Bread, because he’s off to spend time at #VirginiaTech with his…butter half. pic.twitter.com/KqF3Xt1TC8
— Virginia Tech (@virginia_tech) November 26, 2019
Both turkeys are now at “Gobblers Rest,” their new home on the Virginia Tech campus.
“They will be cared for by veterinarians and students at the school’s exhibit, where they can be visited by the public,” according to the White House.
