President Donald Trump transformed the annual White House turkey pardoning ceremony into a platform for political attacks and dark commentary on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, calling Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker “a big, fat slob” and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “incompetent” during what is traditionally a lighthearted Thanksgiving event.
The ceremony, held in the Rose Garden, officially pardoned two North Carolina turkeys named Gobble and Waddle, both weighing over 50 pounds. But the event quickly veered from its festive purpose as Trump launched into extended attacks on Democratic officials and discussed violent crime in graphic detail.
Trump’s most pointed remarks targeted Pritzker and Johnson over crime in Chicago. The president referenced a recent incident in which a woman was set on fire on Chicago public transit, telling the Rose Garden audience about the woman with the burning, they burned this beautiful woman riding in a train.
The president claimed his administration could make Chicago a safe city within four to 10 weeks if officials would permit National Guard deployment. Trump stated the mayor is incompetent, and the governor is a big, fat slob, before adding that he had a joke about Pritzker’s weight but insisted he doesn’t talk about people being fat.
Despite claiming not to mention Pritzker’s weight, Trump continued to discuss the topic. He then acknowledged wanting to lose weight himself but wouldn’t do so over Thanksgiving.
The turkey pardoning tradition dates back decades and typically features presidents delivering humorous, apolitical remarks. Trump opened his speech by joking that he’d considered naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy after Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, but decided against it because he wouldn’t be pardoning them.
Trump also took aim at his predecessor, claiming Joe Biden had used an autopen to sign last year’s turkey pardons for birds named Peach and Blossom. He declared those pardons totally invalid and null and void, stating that a supposed investigation by Attorney General Pam Bondi and various agencies had uncovered this detail. Trump claimed the 2024 turkeys were on their way to be processed before he intervened to pardon them again, saving them in the nick of time.
The president boasted about his crime-fighting efforts in Washington, claiming the nation’s capital hadn’t had a murder in six months. However, reports indicate there have been 61 homicides in Washington since May 25, 2025, with 125 total homicides in the city for 2025. Trump deployed National Guard troops to Washington in August, though a federal judge recently ordered an end to that deployment.
During his remarks, Trump mentioned El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison, joking that some overenthusiastic staffers had suggested sending Gobble and Waddle there. The facility is known for harsh treatment of detainees, making the reference particularly jarring at a family-friendly event.
The president also highlighted what he called the biggest tax cuts in the history of our country for middle-income people, referring to spending legislation passed earlier in the year. He thanked the National Turkey Federation chairman for attending before returning to the discussion of the turkeys themselves.
Trump’s pardons this month extended beyond poultry. He granted clemency to Joseph Schwartz, a nursing home tycoon convicted of fraud, after Schwartz paid nearly one million dollars to lobbyists who appealed to the administration on his behalf, according to reports.
The ceremony concluded with Trump calling on Americans to renew our faith in God’s providence while enjoying the fellowship of family and friends during the holiday, a stark tonal shift following his extensive discussion of violent crime and political grievances.
First lady Melania Trump attended the event alongside Vice President JD Vance’s family and Bondi. Only one turkey, Gobble, appeared present for the actual pardoning, with Trump acknowledging that Waddle was missing in action, but that’s OK. We’ll pretend Waddle is here.
The unconventional nature of Trump’s remarks drew attention from late-night hosts, with comedians noting the jarring contrast between the traditional ceremony and the president’s political attacks.
