2020年的感恩节节很特别，因为是在新冠疫情严重的情况下，这个一年一度的重大节日蒙上了一层阴影。
然而，11月23日下午两点，美国总统川普仍然在白宫举行了一年一度的赦免火鸡活动，庆祝感恩节，让民众感到了一丝节日的温暖。
11月23日，两只漂亮的从爱尔瓦州农场来的幸运火鸡可可Corn,和科比Cob 在其主人，美国火鸡协会主席，第六代农场主朗纳夫妇的见证下，被川普和第一夫人梅拉尼赦免，川普对火鸡说：“科比，我赦免你，让你自由”。
川普在活动上发表了积极的讲话。被邀参加活动的有川普的女尔伊万卡等人。
11月23日白宫赦免火鸡活动现场
感谢各位来宾，祝贺节日的到来。今天股市道琼斯指数涨到了3000，是好兆头。这对就业市场有好处，对大家都有好处。这是2020年以来我们第九次看到这样的记录，也是在川普执政以来第48次出现这样的股市大涨。以前从没有出现过这样的情况，所以我要祝贺各位的努力工作，美国人民的努力工作，这是一个了不起的成绩。
我和第一夫人欢迎各位到美丽的白宫玫瑰园。我和第一夫人努力把玫瑰园装点得更漂亮，这是61年以来最漂亮的时候。
我也非常高兴我的女儿伊万卡等人的到来，她们都喜欢白宫的火鸡，非常感谢。
我在此代表我全家，祝美国人民有一个健康，快乐的感恩节。今天我们在此举行每年一次的活动，总统赦免火鸡，幸运的火鸡，因为感恩节是关于火鸡的节日。第一只出现在白宫餐桌上的火鸡是是林肯总统和他儿子用来招待朋友的。
过去73年来，美国火鸡协会每年为总统提供火鸡，从乔治布什总统开始，每年美国总统在感恩节都要赦免火鸡。
今天，我荣幸的请来可可和科比两只漂亮的火鸡，它们是从30只候选火鸡中挑出来的，是美国火鸡协会主席朗纳先生养大的，谢谢朗纳，谢谢你全家，感谢全家的光临。
两只火鸡象征着爱尔瓦人民的爱心。今天仪式之后，这两只漂亮的火鸡将退休，在爱尔瓦大学过退休日子。在那里，各种年龄的人都可以去参观它们，去了解美国优秀的传统。我们热爱我们的农业人员，我们希望可可和科比永久的幸福，快乐。
今年，是我们国家在这片土地开垦的第400年，400年前，勇敢的人们在危险和艰苦中来到这块土地，许多人被疾病折磨，许多人忍受饥饿，所有人都在祷告，上帝终于听到了他们的祷告。
美国的先行者，创造了无数不屈不挠，艰苦卓绝，顽强奋斗的故事。现在新冠疫苗就要来了，这也是一个可歌可泣的事，是地球上的一个医学奇迹。
我们应该记住，我们生活在伟大的美国，世界最伟大的地方。每个美国人都会感谢上帝给予我们的礼物，保佑我们的家庭，社区，及这个美丽的国家。
在这个感恩节时，我们衷心感谢医生，护士，健康服务人员和科学家，他们勇敢的和新冠病毒斗争，感谢疫苗的到来，下周就会到来。
我们向部队和执法英雄表达我们对他们的感谢，是他们让美国保持安全，保持伟大，我认为，美国利益超出一切。
我们感谢我们拥有的无价的自由，希望上帝保佑我们度过这个节日，保佑我们来年平安。
我和第一夫人再次感谢各位的光临，感恩节快乐。
现在让我们见证客人的到来，看看这两只可爱的大鸟，美丽的鸟，幸运的鸟，我们今天赦免你，谢谢。
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. Please. And I just want to congratulate everybody. The Dow Jones Industrial Average just broke, for the first time in history, 30,000. It’s now — (applause) — that’s good. That’s great for jobs, and it’s good for everything. And this is the ninth time that we set a record during the course of 2020, and it’s the 48th time that we’ve set the record during the Trump administration. And there’s never been anything like that. So I just want to congratulate everybody that worked so hard: the White House, but maybe most importantly, the people of our country. It’s a tremendous achievement.
The First Lady and I are thrilled to welcome you all to the beautiful Rose Garden where the First Lady actually worked very hard on renovating it. It was 61 years — it was in rough shape. Very big job, actually, when you go to the wires underground. People have no idea how complex it is, but you’ve done a fantastic job. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
And we’re also very happy to have with us my daughter, Ivanka, and Jared and Theodore, Arabella, and Joseph. Thank you very much for coming. (Applause.) They like the turkey. Thank you very much.
On behalf of the entire Trump family, I want to wish every American a healthy and very happy Thanksgiving. We’re here today to continue a beloved annual tradition: the official presidential pardon of a very, very fortunate turkey, because Thanksgiving is a special day for turkeys — I guess, probably for the most part, not a very good one when you think about it. The first turkey to dodge the White House dinner table received unofficial clemency when President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, begged his father to spare his new friend.
For the past 73 years, the National Turkey Federation has presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President. Starting under President George H.W. Bush, these birds have received a formal pardon every single year.
Today, it is my honor to present to you this year’s lucky bird, Corn, and, just in case we needed him, Cob. Corn and Cob. That’s not too hard to remember, is it?
These two magnificent gobblers were selected from the official presidential flock of 30 turkeys, some real beauties. They were raised by the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation himself, Ron Kardel. Ron — thank you very much, Ron. Please, stand up. Great job. (Applause.) Ron, thank you for being here, and your family — beautiful family. Thank you very much for being here. Appreciate it.
Like so many presidential flocks, this one started in the great state of Iowa in what can only been described as an act of blatant pandering. And, by the way, I love the state of Iowa.
These two turkeys sought to win the support of Iowans across the state by naming themselves Corn and Cob. After today’s ceremony, these birds will retire under the care of skilled veterinarians at Iowa State University, a tremendous university in Ames.
Once there, people of all ages will be able to visit them and learn about poultry science, veterinary medicine, and the noble American tradition of farming. We love our farmers, I’ll tell you. (Applause.) And we hope and we know that’s going to happen — that Corn and Cob have a very long, happy, and memorable life.
This year, our nation commemorates the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock. After arriving in the New World, the brave men and women of the Mayflower endured a bitter and dangerous winter — very, very dangerous winter. Many were sick, most were starving, and all were praying for a miracle. Thankfully, God heard their prayers.
From our earliest days, America has always been a story of perseverance and triumph, determination and strength, loyalty and faith. This week, in a time that is very unusual but in so many ways, very, very good — what we’ve endured and been able to endure, with the vaccines now coming out one after another. It’s an incredible thing that happened. One of the greatest medical achievements that this planet has ever seen.
But it’s time to remember that we live in a great, great country — the greatest of them all. And there’s nothing even close, as far as I’m concerned.
Every American can be united in thanksgiving to God for the incredible gifts he has bestowed upon us: the blessings of family, community, and this exceptional, beautiful, and great country. It’s greater than ever before.
During this Thanksgiving, we extend our eternal gratitude to the doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and scientists who have waged the battle against the 下午virus, and we give thanks for the vaccines and therapies that will soon end the pandemic. It’s just — just such a tremendous feeling to know that they’re coming, and they’ll be coming probably starting next week, or shortly thereafter.
We send our love to every member of the armed forces and the law enforcement heroes risking their lives to keep America safe, to keep America great, and, as I say, “America first.” Shouldn’t go away from that: America first. (Applause.)
We give thanks to the priceless freedoms that we’ve inherited, and we ask God to watch over and protect our nation and its people during this incredible holiday and in all of the years to come. We ask that of God.
Once again, Melania and I wish to thank everybody for your incredible courtesies and also wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
And now it’s time for the moment of our guests of honor. They’ve been waiting, and, in this case, he’s been waiting for this. And bring them out. Look at that beautiful, beautiful bird. Oh, so lucky. That is a lucky bird.
Corn, I hereby grant you a full pardon. Thank you, Corn. What a bird. (Applause.) Thank you.
MR. KARDEL: (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Iowa farm. I knew I liked you. (Laughter.) That’s great. Beautiful.
Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Have a good one.