Waddle, one of the two turkeys President Trump will pardon today, made a surprise visit to the White House Press Briefing Room just hours before the annual Thanksgiving ceremony. Escorted by the White House Press Secretary, the soon-to-be-pardoned turkey met reporters, posed for cameras, and briefly took over the spotlight. Gobble and Waddle will officially receive their presidential pardons at noon during the traditional event on the White House lawn.
01:30I have to be in here before they can show up.
01:37Can we get the end chair for you?
01:39Where does the video go?
01:41I have to be in here, and I have to be able to run out.
01:43It's blocking our shot.
01:45As long as I take it after the turkey comes in.
01:47Okay.
01:48Yeah.
01:49Can you say that to that?
01:51Sure.
01:59I just needed someone to tell me where to go.
02:02Oh, they're all sitting in the chairs.
02:04That's fine.
02:05Yeah.
02:06Um.
02:07Okay.
02:08But after the turkey's in, it's over.
02:10Well, I mean, I'm going to take the photo of the walkout, too.
02:12Okay.
02:13I'm going to have to do it.
02:18It's the heat right here.
02:20Well, I mean, yeah, it's just our angle.
02:23You want to come right here?
02:24Well, I'm going to be on the ground.
02:25I'm not going to stand here.
02:26You want to come right here?
02:27Sure.
02:28F-Waddle.
02:29F-Waddle.
02:30F-Waddle.
02:31F-Waddle.
02:32F-Waddle.
02:33F-Waddle.
02:34F-Waddle.
02:35Wait, but they did say that they weren't short of the turkey.
02:37They weren't short of theение.
02:38Why weren't you thinking?
02:40Wait, why don't you simply start the trail of the park.
02:41Where we going?
02:43Really good.
02:44Yup.
02:45I'm just low.
02:46Oh, I totally blocked it.
02:48F-Waddle.
02:49F-Waddle, can you come back here or wait?
02:50Can I go there?
02:51No, no.
02:52Let's go.
02:53Stay there.
02:54Stay there.
02:55Okay.
02:56Wait.
02:57Hello everybody, we have Waddle, it's Waddle, it's Waddle, it's Waddle, come on up Waddle,
03:25welcome to the press briefing room, and this is Leslie from the turkey federation, yes the national turkey federation, if you guys have any questions about the bird.
03:36Yes, Waddle, please look around the room, how many turkeys do you see?
03:46You're lucky I don't give you that treatment you see.
03:49Waddle, why are you getting a pardon, what did you do wrong?
03:53Well I'm getting a pardon too, I just don't get to go on the stage.
03:59What's Waddle's life been like?
04:01Waddle's life has been wonderful living on the farm in North Carolina with our grower Travis Pittman and the national turkey federation chairman Jay Jandrin.
04:10He along with Gobble, who you'll see a little bit later, they've been given the luxury experience but they're raised just like any commercial turkey operation.
04:19They're just given a little bit of extra tender love and care because they're going to go meet the big guy.
04:25What's the plan to do with this new lease on life?
04:27Well they're going to be retiring to North Carolina State University where they're going to go and be turkey ambassadors for our industry.
04:33And they're going to be well taken care of by veterinarians, the faculty and staff and students at NC State.
04:39They're going to be a part of the wolf pack.
04:41So just to confirm is Waddle the turkey receiving today's pardon?
04:44Both received the pardon.
04:45Gobble will be the national Thanksgiving turkey and he's the alternate and willing to step in in case Waddle can't perform his duties.
04:52How many pounds?
04:53He is 50 pounds.
04:55Is he the golfer or the footballer?
04:57He loves basketball and sweet potatoes.
05:00And Waddle, are you just being pardoned so that RFK Jr. doesn't try to pry you in a towel?
05:10Oh my goodness, he's a beautiful bird.
05:12He is.
05:13Want to give us a gobble?
05:20Very on message.
05:22He spreads the turkey gospel.
05:29That's crazy.
05:39Daily routine.
05:41They love just constant feed in water.
05:43They love strutting about.
05:44So males are the only turkey which are called turkey toms.
05:49So they're the ones that are strutting.
05:51They're fluffing air into their chest.
05:53They're regulating their body temperature.
05:54They're fanning.
05:55So they're showing off for you.
05:57So if these turkeys were in the wild, they're one to attract the female.
06:00That's how they're strutting about.
06:02So they just enjoy their day having corn and soybeans and a little bit of vitamins and minerals and enjoying their life on the farm.
06:11Oh boy.
06:12We'll bring them a little closer to you, maybe away from the edge.
06:19Can you tell us a little bit about how the turkeys spent their evening in Washington last night?
06:24Well, we haven't seen the room bill yet, but we know that they got into the minibar a little bit.
06:29But they just enjoyed their day yesterday at the Willard.
06:32They had a red carpet welcome on Sunday.
06:35They did over 20 interviews, I believe, yesterday.
06:39So they got a good night's rest last night and were ready to go early this morning.
06:45I think CBS came and saw them.
06:47Has the president met Waddle yet?
06:50Not yet.
06:52No.
06:53So he has no idea that he's pardoning and why he's pardoning.
06:56Oh, no.
06:57He knows.
06:58We've been able to do this.
07:01This will be our 78th presentation here.
07:04And it's just a true honor for the U.S. turkey industry to have this national stage.
07:12All righty.
07:13Well, thank you, Waddle.
07:15It was quite a performance.
07:16Very well behaved, bird.
07:18And we'll see you all for the official pardon in about an hour and a half.
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