Turkeys Gobble and Waddle were treated to a luxury VIP hotel stay ahead of the White House Thanksgiving pardon. The pair arrived at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC after flying in from North Carolina on Monday (24 November). On Tuesday (25 November), they will be pardoned by Donald Trump as part of the annual holiday ceremony. The national tradition, which began over three decades ago, sees the birds spared from the Thanksgiving table and instead sent to farms where they are protected and looked after.

As President Donald Trump prepares to pardon a turkey ahead of Thanksgiving, take a look back at the history of the merciful tradition.

Turkeys Gobble and Waddle were treated to a luxury VIP hotel stay ahead of the White House Thanksgiving pardon. The pair arrived at the Willard Hotel in Washington DC after flying…

Before Thanksgiving gobble, these two turkeys waddled off menu thanks to President Donald Trump's pardon at the White House on Nov. 25, 2025.

President Donald Trump, with First Lady Melania Trump, on Tuesday continued a White House tradition that dates to the 1800's -- pardoning a turkey from the dinner table ahead of…

Karoline Leavitt brought her son Nicholas to meet Waddle, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys, prior to the pardoning ceremony with Donald Trump on Tuesday, 25 November.…

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump didn’t bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at…

Karoline Leavitt brought her son Nicholas to meet Waddle, one of the National Thanksgiving turkeys, prior to the pardoning ceremony with Donald Trump on Tuesday, 25 November.…

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world