Donald Trump makes dig about Joe Biden as he pardons Thanksgiving turkeys

President Donald Trump and wife Melania, stand next to national Thanksgiving turkey Gobble during a pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

The president has pardoned two North Carolina turkeys, Gobble and Waddle – although Waddle was missing for the Rose Garden ceremony.

“Gobble, I just want to tell you this – very important – you are hereby unconditionally pardoned,” Mr Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd.

“Who would want to harm this beautiful bird,” Mr Trump was overheard saying. It was not initially clear what had happened to Waddle, the second turkey set for reprieve.

“Waddle, by the way, is missing in action, but that’s OK, we’ll pretend Waddle is here,” Mr Trump said.

Waddle, one of the Thanksgiving turkeys, stands in the White House press briefing room on Tuesday (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Waddle was later pictured in the White House press briefing room.

As he was participating in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony at the White House, Mr Trump claimed that former president Joe Biden had used an autopen for last year’s turkey pardon, which he claimed therefore made them “totally invalid”.

He went on to joke that Peach and Blossom, the turkeys pardoned by Mr Biden, were on their way to be processed, but that he was officially pardoning them along with this year’s birds.