Biden Pardons National Thanksgiving Turkeys While Marking His 81st Birthday With Jokes About His Age

President Joe Biden stands next to Liberty, one of the two national Thanksgiving turkeys, after pardoning them during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 20, 2023. Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

WASHINGTON—Turkeys Liberty and Bell have new appreciation for the phrase, “Let freedom ring.”

The Thanksgiving birds played their part Monday in annual White House tradition that this year coincided with President Joe Biden’s 81st birthday: a president issuing a pardon and sparing them from becoming someone’s holiday dinner.