President Biden on Monday pardoned this year’s national Thanksgiving turkeys “Peach” and “Blossom” on the South Lawn of the White House — the last time he will participate in the tradition while in office.

Biden thanked John Zimmerman, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, and Zimmerman’s son Grant for participating in the annual White House tradition.

The national turkey lobby first presented a turkey to President Truman for Thanksgiving in the 1940s, and President George HW Bush started the annual tradition of forgiving turkeys, Biden said.

Zimmerman has raised more than four million turkeys in his 35-year career, Biden noted. Over the past four years, Biden has pardoned other national Thanksgiving turkeys, called “Peanut Butter” and “Jelly,” “Chocolate” and “Chip,” and “Liberty” and “Bell.”

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President Biden is pictured with National Turkey Federation Chairman John Zimmerman and Zimmerman’s son Grant after pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkey Peach during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, November 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In his remarks, Biden said Zimmerman’s family was from Northfield, Minnesota, where the president and his Agriculture Secretary Tim Vilsack visited last year with “our great friend, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who spoke about the transformation of rural America in Minnesota.” Walz unsuccessfully ran for the White House as vice president, on an equal footing with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Harris, who was conspicuously absent from Monday’s pardon ceremony for Turkey.

Biden made no mention of Harris, who is reportedly keeping a low profile with close aides and family in Hawaii following her defeat by President-elect Trump.

The 82-year-old president took the opportunity to thank him for his time in office.

President Biden speaks during a pardon ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, November 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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“This event marks the official start of the holiday season here in Washington. It is also my last time speaking here as your president during the season,” Biden said. “And give thanks and gratitude. So let me say to you: It has been the honor of my life. I am forever grateful that today my wife, Jill, and I will travel to Staten Island, New York, for a Friendsgiving with members of the Coast Guard and their families to show our gratitude for their service and sacrifice – as does my son. We also hold our hearts with those who have lost so much and who will have an empty seat at the Thanksgiving dinner table tonight, or excuse me, Thursday evening.”

The Peach and Blossom national Thanksgiving turkeys before the pardon ceremony at the White House, Monday, November 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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“May we use this moment to take time from our busy lives and focus on what matters most: our families,” Biden added. “In America, we never give up. We keep going. We keep the faith. Just remember who we are. We are the United States of America. There is nothing, nothing, nothing that is beyond our ability if we do it together. So happy Thanksgiving, America. God bless you all and may God protect our troops.”