Trump to turkeys: ‘You’re pardoned!’

President Trump has had lots of experience saying “You’re fired,” but on Tuesday, he got a chance to say “You’re pardoned.” That’s the message he delivered to the National Thanksgiving Turkey, appropriately named Drumstick, in a White House Rose Garden ceremony where he also wished Americans a safe and healthy holiday. A companion turkey named Wishbone was also pardoned but with less ceremony. The two birds that avoided the ax were raised in western Minnesota under the supervision of National Turkey Federation Chairman Carl Wittenburg and his wife Sharlene, along with five members of the Douglas County 4-H chapter. The turkeys will spend the rest of their days at Virginia Tech’s “Gobblers Rest” exhibit, where students and veterinarians care for the birds and the public can visit and learn about the university’s teaching, research, and outreach programs in animal and poultry sciences and veterinary medicine. The National Turkey Federation also brought along two turkeys from Jaindl’s Turkey Farm in Orefield, Pa., for President and Mrs. Trump to donate. Those turkeys went to Martha’s Table in Washington, D.C.