WASHINGTON — Despite having committed no crime, two turkeys were pardoned by the president on Tuesday and saved from the dinner table.

One of the two turkeys appeared in the briefing room ahead of the Rose Garden ceremony. The 50-pound bird named Waddle waddled near the podium where press secretary Karoline Leavitt usually addresses reporters.

“Waddle, want to give us a gobble?” Leavitt asked. The turkey obliged.

“Very on message!” Leavitt said.

This year, Trump pardoned turkeys Gobble and Waddle, named through an online vote led by North Carolina students. Usually, the birds are kept secret until a press conference hosted by the National Turkey Federation. But the Trump administration debuted them early this year at a Monday ceremony near the White House.

Trump bestowed ceremonial p

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