Biden Pardons Turkeys “Chocolate” and “Chip”: Compares Turkeys to “Some of the Countries I’ve Been To,” Jokes About “Only Red Wave” Being Cranberry Sauce, and Tells Grandson “Don’t Let Him Jump”

On 11/21/2022, President Biden presided over the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony, delivering one of his most rambling public appearances of the year. Biden pardoned turkeys named “Chocolate” and “Chip” (a pun on chocolate chip), managed to compare the birds to foreign countries (“like some of the countries I’ve been to”), joked that “the only red wave this season” was his dog knocking over cranberry sauce, told his grandson “don’t let him jump” (a reference to his recurring “don’t jump” verbal tic), admitted “chocolate is my favorite ice cream” as the apparent inspiration for the turkey name, and engaged in an odd exchange with one of the birds who “knew I was pardoned” before Biden told him.

”Like Some of the Countries”

Biden’s most jarring line came early. Asked how many turkeys were being raised, Biden responded: “You’re raising — God love you — nine and a half million turkeys. I tell you what, it’s like some of the countries I’ve been to.”

The comparison — turkey farms to countries Biden had visited — was cryptic and diplomatically awkward. Biden didn’t specify which countries he meant or what the basis for the comparison was. Were the countries large in population? Did they look like turkey farms? Were they controlled by figurative turkeys? The line hung without clarification, a characteristic Biden aside that sounded like the setup for a joke that never arrived.

The political risk of the comment was real. Somewhere, a foreign government official was processing the fact that the American president had compared their country to a turkey farm during a pre-Thanksgiving ceremony. Whether it was a joke, a slip, or a genuine thought, the comment was the kind of off-hand remark that could complicate diplomacy.

”The Only Red Wave”

Biden then made a reference to the 2022 midterm results that required context to understand. “In all seriousness, there’s no ballot stuffing. There’s no foul play. The only red wave this season is going to be a German Shepherd commander knocks over the cranberry sauce on our table,” Biden said.

The “red wave” reference was to pre-midterm Republican predictions that 2022 would produce a historically large GOP victory — a “red wave” that would sweep Democrats from power. The wave had not materialized as predicted. Democrats held the Senate and lost the House by narrower margins than expected.

Biden’s joke reframed the political prediction into a culinary prediction: the only red wave this year would be cranberry sauce being spilled by his dog. The pun worked on multiple levels — it mocked Republican expectations, celebrated the Democratic midterm performance, and brought his pet dog Commander into the Thanksgiving narrative.

The “no ballot stuffing, no foul play” opening was itself notable. “Foul play” was a pun on “fowl” — the birds being pardoned. But the substance of the joke — reassurances that there was no ballot stuffing — reflected the ongoing political environment where election integrity had become a contested issue. Biden’s invocation of the topic, even as a joke, kept the subject alive in public discourse.

”Chocolate Is My Favorite Ice Cream”

Biden then explained the apparent inspiration for the turkey names. “Please welcome the 2022 National Thanksgiving Turkeys, Chocolate and Chip. I tell you what, man, they can go wherever they want. Of course Chocolate is my favorite. Chocolate is my favorite ice cream,” Biden said.

The admission that the turkey names connected to Biden’s well-known preference for chocolate chip ice cream was charming but also revealed something about how the turkey names had been chosen. Biden’s love of ice cream — particularly chocolate chip — had become one of his most recognized personal preferences, featured in countless press photos of him eating ice cream at various stops around the country.

Biden’s “strong as hell” economy comment from October had been made at an ice cream shop. His public appearances frequently included ice cream stops. The turkey names appeared to be a deliberate nod to this presidential quirk.

“But I — but I could have — we could have named them chips and science, but anyway, I would have been good named as well,” Biden added, attempting a joke about the CHIPS and Science Act that collapsed into incoherent construction. The joke was understandable in theory — “chocolate and chip” as turkey names vs. “chips and science” as alternative names — but Biden’s delivery muddled the punchline.

”Don’t Let Him Jump”

The ceremony included a familiar Biden verbal tic. “And by the way, that’s my grandson Beau up there and my granddaughter. Don’t let him jump,” Biden said.

The “don’t let him jump” phrase was part of Biden’s documented habit of telling people “don’t jump” at public events — a verbal tic that had been captured in multiple compilation videos. At the turkey pardon ceremony, the phrase was directed at his grandson Beau (named after Biden’s late son), who was apparently standing on an elevated surface.

The reflexive “don’t jump” language suggested the phrase had become an automatic response whenever Biden saw someone — anyone — positioned above him. His grandson was presumably in no danger of jumping. But the phrase emerged anyway, like a verbal habit Biden couldn’t suppress.

”Chocolate Is My Favorite Ice Cream”

The ceremony took an unusual turn when Biden announced that Chip — the second turkey — would weigh 47 pounds and “loves barbeque and basketball.” This was an odd biographical detail for a turkey, but the formal turkey pardon ceremony traditionally included such personality descriptions.

Biden then made the formal pardon announcement. “I hereby pardon Chocolate and Chip. This is Chocolate, right? Chocolate, you are pardoned. You are pardoned,” Biden said.

The odd exchange followed. “He said, ‘I don’t know, man. You didn’t have to pardon me. I knew I was pardoned,’” Biden reported, ventriloquizing the turkey’s imagined response.

The ventriloquism bit — Biden reporting what a turkey had supposedly said to him — was the kind of joke that could work or fall flat depending on delivery. Biden’s delivery was meandering. He explained that the turkey had told him he “didn’t have to pardon me” because “I knew I was pardoned” — a mildly absurdist joke about the foreknowledge of turkeys scheduled for presidential pardon.

”Nine and a Half Million Turkeys”

Biden cited specific figures about the turkey industry. “You’re raising — God love you — nine and a half million turkeys,” Biden said to the turkey farmer.

The reference appeared to be to the specific farm operation, not the national turkey industry (which produces roughly 200 million turkeys annually). A single farm raising 9.5 million turkeys would be one of the largest operations in the country — possible for a major producer but not typical.

The “God love you” interjection was classic Biden — an affectionate colloquialism he deployed frequently in conversation with ordinary Americans. The phrase conveyed approval and warmth without committing to specific praise or policy positions.

The “Friendsgiving” Trip

Biden announced his Thanksgiving travel plans. “Later today, Jill and I are going to be flying down to North Carolina, to Cherry Point, North Carolina, for a Friendsgiving, where we’ll be serving Thanksgiving dinner to the troops and military families to demonstrate our gratitude,” Biden said.

The “Friendsgiving” framing — serving food to military personnel rather than hosting a traditional family Thanksgiving — was a sympathetic image that highlighted Biden’s commitment to military families. Visiting Cherry Point, a Marine Corps Air Station, combined presidential support for the military with a holiday-themed photo opportunity.

The trip was typical of presidential Thanksgiving ceremonies — using the holiday as a backdrop for visibility with military personnel and their families.

Roy Cooper and Kristin Cooper

Biden mentioned his friends North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper. “My dear friends — I’m going to introduce them again — Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper here,” Biden said.

Roy Cooper was a Democratic governor who had been a reliable Biden ally. His presence at the turkey pardon ceremony — unusual for a state governor at a White House tradition — reflected the close relationship between the Biden White House and North Carolina Democrats, and possibly Cooper’s speculated ambitions for future federal appointment.

”This Is the Largest National Turkey Presentation Ever Held”

Biden closed with a characteristic superlative claim. “My dear friends — what is the largest national turkey presentation ever held at the White House,” Biden said.

Whether it was actually “the largest national turkey presentation ever held” was unverifiable and almost certainly unimportant. The White House turkey pardon ceremony had followed roughly the same format for decades. Biden’s claim was more about rhetorical emphasis than factual precision.

Key Takeaways

• Biden pardoned turkeys “Chocolate” and “Chip” at the annual White House turkey pardon ceremony — named as a pun on chocolate chip ice cream.
• Biden compared the turkey farm to “some of the countries I’ve been to” — a cryptic and diplomatically awkward remark.
• He joked that “the only red wave this season” was his dog Commander potentially knocking over cranberry sauce.
• Biden told his grandson Beau “don’t let him jump” — continuing his documented verbal tic about jumping.
• He claimed it was “the largest national turkey presentation ever held” — an unverifiable rhetorical flourish.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• You’re raising — God love you — nine and a half million turkeys. I tell you what, it’s like some of the countries I’ve been to.
• In all seriousness, there’s no ballot stuffing. There’s no foul play.
• The only red wave this season is going to be a German Shepherd Commander knocks over the cranberry sauce on our table.
• Of course Chocolate is my favorite. Chocolate is my favorite ice cream.
• And by the way, that’s my grandson Beau up there and my granddaughter. Don’t let him jump.
• He said, “I don’t know, man. You didn’t have to pardon me. I knew I was pardoned.”

Full transcript: 551 words transcribed via Whisper AI.