Biden pardons turkeys ‘Chocolate' and ‘Chip' for Thanksgiving

Lighthearted event

Joe Biden on Monday used his powers as US president to pardon two turkeys, sparing them from winding up as the main course during an upcoming Thanksgiving dinner later this week. "I hereby pardon Chocolate and Chip," Biden said at the pardoning ceremony on the South Lawn, a lighthearted autumn event that has become something of a White House tradition. The large white birds, which were raised on a farm in North Carolina, were named for the president's favorite ice cream flavor, Biden told several schoolchildren who were present for the event. "That's a big bird," Biden quipped as 21kg Chocolate was placed on a table. — ap