Turkeys Arrive In DC For Trump’s Pardon [VIDEO]

The New York Post reports:

These free birds are celebrating in style. Wishbone and Drumstick — the two lucky Turkeys chosen to be pardoned by President Trump — arrived at a luxury Washington D.C. hotel Monday to relax before their big public appearance.

The birds were lounging on their beds and watching football in their two-bedroom suite at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in downtown Washington. The White House said that Drumstick weighs 47 pounds and its favorite band is Journey. Wishbone, however, weighs 36 pounds and is country fan who favors Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

The Associated Press reports:

White House archives show that Americans have sent presidents holiday turkeys at least since 1873 under President Ulysses S. Grant. But the National Thanksgiving Turkey dates from 1947, when the National Turkey Federation became the official supplier and presented a 47-pound gobbler to President Harry Truman. In those days the turkeys were destined for dinner.

Formal pardons began with President George H.W. Bush in 1989, though stories of spared turkeys date back to President Abraham Lincoln. President John F. Kennedy sent his 1963 turkey back to its farm. Sometime around the Nixon era the White House began sending them to petting zoos after the ceremonies, though without formal pardons.

The clip is actually pretty cute.

The two turkeys, Drumstick and Wishbone, participating in this year’s National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony have arrived in DC! pic.twitter.com/jUyhQMR2Mm

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 20, 2017