UPDATE 3:00 p.m. ET: President Obama pardoned Tot, his final Thanksgiving turkey.
Original story below:
One last time. President Barack Obama will continue a long-standing White House tradition and pardon his final turkey as commander-in-chief at 2:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 23, one day before Thanksgiving.
The turkey pardon ceremony first started in 1947 under President Harry Truman. The National Turkey Federation presents a live domestic turkey to the POTUS, who grants a pardon to the bird and brings it to Virginia Tech to be cared for by veterinarians and students.
“Tomorrow is one of the best days of the year to be an American,” Obama, 55, said in a statement on Wednesday. “It’s a day to count our blessings, spend time with the ones we love, and enjoy some good food and some great company. But it’s also one of the worst days of the year to be a turkey. They don’t have it so good.”
This year, two turkeys will attend the ceremony: Tater and Tot. Both are male birds born on July 18. According to the White House’s Twitter account, Tater’s favorite song is “Me Too” by Megan Trainor, his gobble style is “strong” and he “walks with a swagger.” Tot, meanwhile, loves Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” gobbles with confidence and “walks with a relaxed saunter.”
Introducing Tater and Tot, the 2016 National #Thanksgiving Turkeys: https://t.co/wTcdWKlWAM #WHTurkeyPardon pic.twitter.com/H3NjsU6YNT
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) November 22, 2016
Both Tater and Tot will be spared, but only one will officially be “pardoned” by Obama. Based on the White House’s Twitter poll, Tot will likely be the victor, as he earned 51 percent of the votes versus Tater’s 49 percent.
Watch the livestream above!
