President Trump Pardons Turkey In Thanksgiving Tradition: Photos

The annual White House presidential turkey pardoning has been an honored tradition for decades, becoming synonymous with the U.S. culture of the Thanksgiving holiday. Each year, two turkeys are picked as candidates for pardoning, with one being chosen as the ultimate winner for the ceremony.

Peas, the 2018 National Thanksgiving Turkey, and his runner up, Carrots, both hail from South Dakota and have created quite the spectacle.

"That turkey is so lucky. I've never seen such a beautiful turkey," President Trump exclaimed before officially pardoning Peas. It wasn't long before memes and reactions flooded social media, as Trump made not-so-subtle jabs at the previous presidential race against Hillary Clinton and the controversy surrounding the aftermath of the election.

Trump made sure to let spectators know that Peas was chosen over Carrots after a "fair and open election," in case anyone was wondering. Both Peas and Carrots will spend the rest of their lives in a farm.

We rounded up the best moments from the pardoning ceremony, which took place on Nov. 20 at the White House's Rose Garden, as well as some heartwarming photos of Peas and Carrots arriving in Washington.

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Meet Peas and Carrots

Nov. 19, 2018

Peas and Carrots, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate, are shown to members of the media during a press conference held by the National Turkey Federation Nov. 19, 2018, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. The two turkeys were both "pardoned" following the presentation of the national turkey to President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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A closer look at the 2018 U.S. national turkeys. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Peas and Carrots, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate, walk in their hotel room at the Willard Hotel after being introduced to members of the media during a press conference held by the National Turkey Federation. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Turkey Pardoning Ceremony

Nov. 20, 2018

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in a turkey pardoning event at the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump and her children, Arabella Kushner and Theodore Kushner, attend the turkey pardoning event as they watch one of the two candidate turkeys Peas at the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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President Donald Trump participates in the national turkey pardoning event as one of the two candidate turkeys, Peas, stands on a table at the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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President Donald Trump gets ready to place his hand on Peas during the national turkey pardoning event at the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Ivanka Trump, her children — Arabella Kushner, Joseph Kushner, and Theodore Kushner — look on during the turkey pardoning event at the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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President Donald Trump smiles during the turkey pardoning event as one of the two candidate turkeys Peas stands on a table at the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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U.S. President Donald Trump touches Peas as he issues the pardon for him during the ceremony where he and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Shutterstock)

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Ivanka Trump and her children, Arabella Kushner, Joseph Kushner and Theodore Kushner, keep a close eye on Peas at the turkey pardoning event. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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U.S. President Donald Trump, motions First lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump to Marine One as he prepares to take questions from reporters as he prepares to depart from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. for Florida where he and his family will spend the Thanksgiving holiday. (Shutterstock)

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Lead image by Photo by REX/Shutterstock