By Douglas V. Gibbs
Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving pardon of Gobble and Waddle was more than a lighthearted holiday tradition. It symbolized his broader commitment to mercy, justice, and decisive leadership. His recent pardons, like the ceremonial clemency for these turkeys, reflect a philosophy of restoring fairness and correcting wrongs.
In a sense, it was a tradition with a twist, as we know Trump is so good at. His November 25, 2025 pardoning of two turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, in the Rose Garden ceremony included some stabs, such as President Trump joking he should have named them Chuck and Nancy. While the event also carried more of his usual humor, such as Trump joking about the birds’ gobbling and even teased that one was “missing in action,” it also carried more political undertones than his Chuck and Nancy joke. He used the moment to highlight his administration’s willingness to act boldly, even in symbolic gestures, and to contrast his approach with what he described as the failures of prior leadership.
The turkey pardon tradition dates back decades, but Trump’s framing connected it to a larger theme: pardons as acts of justice, not just ceremony. In recent weeks, Trump has issued pardons that conservatives have praised as correcting political overreach and restoring balance.
Supporters argue these decisions were important because they:
• Reined in excessive prosecutions that many saw as politically motivated.
• Restored dignity to individuals who had been unfairly targeted.
• Signaled strength and compassion, showing that mercy can coexist with firm leadership.
While he can’t pardon Tina Peters, he is calling on Colorado to release the former city clerk who challenged the 2020 election and passed on evidence of irregularities and possible voting machine fraud to other people like Mike Lindell.
Commentators across conservative media, from Fox News to Newsmax, have emphasized that Trump’s pardons demonstrate a willingness to challenge entrenched bureaucracies and defend ordinary citizens against government excess. The turkey pardon, though playful, became a metaphor for his broader mission: sparing the vulnerable, correcting injustices, and reminding Americans that leadership can be both firm and humane.
Gobble and Waddle, spared from the Thanksgiving table, now serve as “Turkey Ambassadors” at North Carolina State University. Their survival is symbolic: just as these birds were granted freedom, Trump’s pardons have granted relief to individuals facing unfair burdens. The message is clear; mercy is not weakness, but strength applied with wisdom.
In tying the ceremonial pardon of Gobble and Waddle to his recent acts of clemency, Trump underscored a consistent theme: leadership means knowing when to be tough, and when to extend grace. For conservatives, this balance is precisely why his pardons were both important and good.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
