WATCH | US Presidential Turkeys Enjoy Luxury Stay Ahead Of Annual Pardon - video Dailymotion

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Washington: In Washington, DC, two turkeys are receiving the full VIP treatment ahead of one of America's quirkiest Thanksgiving traditions, the presidential pardon. Each year, the National Turkey Federation brings a pair of specially selected birds to the capital, where they enjoy luxury accommodations before being formally pardoned by the president. This year's honorees, named Gobble and Waddle, arrived from North Carolina and settled into the Willard InterContinental Hotel for their high-profile stay.At the event unveiling the birds, Butterball CEO Jay Jandrain joked about a 'leak' of their names before formally introducing Gobble and Waddle to the crowd. He explained that the presidential turkeys undergo special preparation, including socialisation and exposure to noise and attention, to ensure they are comfortable under bright lights and in front of cheering audiences. Their final task comes when they meet President Donald Trump for the traditional pardon ceremony.Travis Pittman of Nahunta Community Farms, who helped raise the birds, described the experience as a highlight of his career. Representing North Carolina, America's second-largest turkey-producing state, he said the flock received exceptional care from the moment they hatched, reflecting the significance of the longstanding Thanksgiving tradition.&nbsp;

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00:00Every Thanksgiving, Washington, D.C. hosts one of America's light-hearted holiday traditions,

00:10the presidential turkey pardon. This year, two turkeys named Gobel and Waddle traveled

00:18from North Carolina to take part.

00:20So, before we move on to the next part, this was the time when I was going to announce

00:31the names of these two lucky turkeys for the very first time. But we are, of course, in

00:38Washington, D.C., and true to form, we've had a bit of a leak in our information here.

00:44But nonetheless, I'm happy to announce to you all, please welcome them, Gobel and Waddle.

00:57Before the ceremony, they stayed at a luxury hotel treated like VIP guests.

01:05Event organizers explained that the birds were specially raised and trained to handle crowds,

01:11bright lights, and the excitement of the capital.

01:16Now, as many of you know, these presidential turkeys have a big few days ahead of them.

01:21This means they were given some extra preparation as they were raised.

01:24These birds were socialized to endure the bright lights and the cheering crowds,

01:28which they've seen a lot of already since we've been here.

01:30And, of course, the day tomorrow when they get to meet the President of the United States.

01:35Their final stop is the White House, where they will meet the President of the United States

01:42and receive their official pardon.

01:45For the farmers who raised them, the moment is a point of pride.

01:49Raising the 2025 presidential flock has been one of the highlights of my career.

01:56Knowing these turkeys would represent not just our farm, but the entire state of North Carolina,

02:01which is the second largest turkey-producing state in the country,

02:05is something that we do not take lightly.

02:10These birds really did get excellent treatment from day one.

02:14Representing North Carolina, one of the country's leading turkey-producing states,

02:19the birds were given exceptional care from the very beginning.

WATCH | US Presidential Turkeys Enjoy Luxury Stay Ahead Of Annual Pardon

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