Late-night court jester Jimmy Kimmel took to his stage this week to deliver a predictably smug eulogy for the documentary Melania, sneering at the film’s $7 million opening as nothing more than a &#8220;rigged&#8221; Hollywood accounting trick.
Kimmel, who has built a career on the very &#8220;clique&#8221; culture he claims to despise, mocked the film’s record-breaking status as the best non-musical documentary debut in a decade. &#8220;That’s just a fancy way of saying it only lost tens of millions of dollars,&#8221; Kimmel quipped, visibly irked that a project associated with the Trump name could still command a box office presence.
The monologue quickly descended into Kimmel&#8217;s signature brand of elitist condescension. He delighted in reports of bulk ticket purchases, comparing the film’s strategy to the RNC’s support of Donald Trump Jr.’s bestseller in 2019 — a book Kimmel claimed &#8220;no one has ever opened.&#8221;
He saved his sharpest vitriol for the American heartland, mocking a group of female congregants from a Dallas megachurch who wore gowns inspired by the First Lady. In a line that perfectly captured the late-night divide, he labeled the women the &#8220;dumb as a Rockettes,&#8221; signaling once again that the only thing Kimmel finds funnier than his own jokes is the perceived ignorance of anyone living outside the 310 area code.
Kimmel’s disdain for the &#8220;unwashed masses&#8221; was likely based on a more technical, if equally skeptical, <a href="https://tombrueggemann.substack.com/p/five-box-office-results-this-weekend">Substack post</a> by former IndieWire editor Tom Brueggeman. Brueggeman attempted to reconcile the $7 million haul with reports of &#8220;empty theaters&#8221; in deep-blue cities, suggesting the numbers were propped up by:
<ul>
<li>Pity Purchases: &#8220;Sketchy&#8221; documentation of outside groups buying blocks of tickets to distribute for free to senior centers and activists.</li>
<li>MAGA Spite: A surge in sales fueled by a desire to &#8220;own the libs&#8221; after the media began preemptively declaring the film a flop.</li>
<li>Studio Math: Studio-provided estimates that conveniently projected a minimal Sunday drop to inflate the final weekend total.</li>
</ul>
To Kimmel, the film’s 99% audience score — higher than The Godfather — was the ultimate punchline. &#8220;I’m sure Donald J. Corleone had nothing to do with that at all,&#8221; he smirked. For the late-night host, it seems the only thing more offensive than Melania Trump’s success is the fact that millions of Americans still refuse to take their cues from his teleprompter.
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MixCollage-05-Feb-2026-12-44-PM-6735

‘Dumb As Rockettes’: Jimmy Kimmel Bashes ‘Melania,’ Insults Fans Of Documentary

Jimmy Kimmel Bashes 'Melania' Documentary, Insults Fans As 'Dumb As Rockettes'

Jimmy Kimmel

Melania Trump

WASHINGTON — First Lady Melania Trump will meet with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel and his wife, Aviva Siegel, on Wednesday at the White House.
The first lady will have a private, sit-down conversation with the Siegels in the White House&#8217;s Blue Room, where they will discuss how Hamas forcibly took the Siegels from their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, and held them hostage — Aviva Siegel for 51 days, and Keith Siegel for 484 days.
Aviva Siegel was released during the first hostage deal in November 2023. Hamas released her husband on February 1, 2025, during a ceasefire that was brokered by President Donald Trump before he even took office, following his wife&#8217;s meetings with both the president and first lady.
One of these meetings was included in the first lady&#8217;s new film, &#8220;Melania,&#8221; showing Melania Trump and Aviva Siegel sharing an emotional moment in Manhattan as they discuss the plight of Siegel&#8217;s husband. Melania Trump hugs Siegel as she weeps into her shoulder, and the first lady promises to pray for Keith Siegel, who was still in Hamas captivity at the time.
One of the final title cards in &#8220;Melania&#8221; states that the first lady &#8220;played a key role in securing the release of Keith Siegel after 484 days as a hostage in Gaza, just 12 days after the inauguration.&#8221;
&#8220;I will always use my influence and power to fight for those in need,&#8221; the first lady says in the documentary film.
Keith Siegel, 66, is a dual Israel-U.S. citizen who moved from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to Israel in 1980. He is a father of four and a grandfather of five. He is an occupational therapist by trade and reportedly learned Arabic to communicate with the Gazans who worked in his kibbutz prior to Gazan civilians and Hamas massacring his neighbors.
<div id="attachment_1038181" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-to-meet-with-hamas-hostage-she-helped-bring-home/palestinian-israel-conflict-hostage" rel="attachment wp-att-1038181"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1038181" class="wp-image-1038181 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196440906-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196440906-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196440906-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196440906-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196440906.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Hamas fighters escort American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Gaza City on February 1, 2025, as part of the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange.  (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
He is a vegetarian with a particular love for classic American breakfast pancakes, a rarity in Israel. After his release, a Keith Siegel’s Pancake House <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-847923">pop-up opened</a> in Tel Aviv, selling the same pancakes his family had made him known for while they campaigned for his freedom. During that time, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum compiled a cookbook featuring his pancake recipe, which he made for his family every Saturday morning.
His daughter later said she received hundreds of photos each weekend from people around Israel cooking her father’s pancakes. The proceeds from the pancake house went to helping the family get back on their feet.
Siegel opened up about the horrific conditions of his captivity last year in an interview with Lesley Stahl, claiming he witnessed Hamas terrorists sexually assaulting female hostages in front of him.
“I witnessed a young woman who was being tortured by the terrorists. I mean literal, you know, torture, not just in the figurative sense,” he said. “I saw sexual assault with female hostages.”
He was initially held with his wife, but following her release, Siegel said conditions became worse, and he was often beaten and starved.
In the interview, Siegel quickly put interviewer Lesley Stahl in her place after she asked if Hamas actually starved Siegel, or if the terrorists simply didn’t have food themselves.
“No, I think they starved me and they — they would often eat in front of me and not offer me food,” Siegel said.
Siegel also said that Hamas shaved all the men’s heads and genitals as a way to humiliate them.
“I think they thought it was maybe, it amused them or, you know, humiliating. I felt humiliated,” Siegel said.
<div id="attachment_1038183" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-to-meet-with-hamas-hostage-she-helped-bring-home/palestinian-israel-conflict-gaza-hostage" rel="attachment wp-att-1038183"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1038183" class="wp-image-1038183 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196449012-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196449012-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196449012-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196449012-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2196449012.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Hamas secures an area before handing over an Israeli-American hostage to a Red Cross team in Gaza City on February 1, 2025. (Photo by OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Siegel was kept in a suffocating tunnel 33 feet underground and says he was given very little food and water.
Siegel’s ribs were reportedly broken when he was taken captive, and his condition deteriorated so badly that former hostage Emily Damari said she offered to switch places with him so he could be released sooner, <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-839135">The Jerusalem Post reported</a>.
Hamas also used him for propaganda. He appeared in an April 2024 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obQ7vpgWHiU">video</a> speaking Hebrew and looking frail before beginning to cry.
Due to being a hostage, he was unable to say goodbye to his mother, Gladys, who passed away in December 2024 in North Carolina. The family chose to shield her from the news of her son’s captivity before she died, according to the American Jewish Committee.
Two weeks after he was released, Siegel recorded a video message praising Trump for helping secure his freedom.
&#8220;President Trump, you are the reason I am home alive,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You are the reason I was reunited with my beloved wife, four children, and five grandchildren. Thank you for your continued fight against terror and for your bold leadership that has brought me and many others back home to our families, to safety and to security.&#8221;
Siegel, his wife, and other hostages met with Trump in the Oval Office in March 2025, where they <a href="https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-844850">thanked him</a> for their freedom.

Amazon MGM’s “Melania” World Premiere

Melania Trump To Meet With Hamas Hostage She Helped Bring Home

General

Hamas

October 7

U.S.

Author Michael Wolff responded to President Donald Trump&#8217;s threat of a lawsuit by essentially daring him to go through with it — and then he claimed that he would be the one to come out on top if such a lawsuit were actually filed.
Wolff explained in an Instagram video that he would love nothing more than to be able to subpoena both the President and first lady Melania Trump — and that he&#8217;d have standing to do so if either of them ever filed suit against him.
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&#8220;I woke up this morning and found that last night, Donald Trump had threatened to sue me again. I think this is the third or possibly fourth time the president of the United States has threatened to sue,&#8221; Wolff began, referencing Trump&#8217;s most recent threat — made aboard Air Force One — to sue him for &#8220;conspiring&#8221; with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Wolff admitted to pressing Epstein for information, claiming that he&#8217;d done so in order to convince the disgraced financier to give up any information he had on Trump: &#8220;Yes, I tried to encourage Jeffrey Epstein in any way I knew how to come forward with what he knew about Donald Trump.&#8221;
The author went on to note that he had already filed suit against first lady <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-threatens-hunter-biden-with-1b-lawsuit-false-defamatory-disparaging">Melania Trump</a> — after she&#8217;d threatened legal action against him for claiming that she had traveled in the same circles as Epstein — and said that if the president made good on his threat, he would be able to subpoena both Trumps.
&#8220;This lawsuit gives me the power to subpoena Mrs. Trump, Mr. Trump, and all their friends &#8230; Bring it on!&#8221; he said. &#8220;I believe that if the American public knew the real nature of Donald Trump’s long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, they would turn away in horror and revulsion. So sue me. Let’s sue each other.”
“I have nothing to hide, but Mr. President, you surely do,&#8221; Wolff declared.
Wolff said that Melania Trump threatened legal action months earlier after he authored an article for The Daily Beast claiming that Epstein had been the one to introduce her to the president. Hunter Biden later repeated that claim in an interview, prompting Trump&#8217;s litigation counsel Alejandro Brito to fire off a letter to former President Joe Biden&#8217;s son as well.
&#8220;Following receipt of our cease-and-desist demand letter just a week ago, The Daily Beast issued an apology to Mrs. Trump and retracted the false and defamatory statements contained in the Article by deleting it in its entirety,” Brito wrote, describing Wolff as a &#8220;serial fabulist&#8221; and adding, “Despite this, you have unjustifiably relied upon Mr. Wolff’s false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements about Mrs. Trump and maliciously elected to republish them.&#8221;

Author Michael Wolff Discusses His Controversial New Book On Trump Administration

‘Let’s Sue Each Other’: Author Claims Trump’s Lawsuit Threat Will Actually Help Him

'Let's Sue Each Other': Author Claims Trump's Lawsuit Threat Will Actually Help Him

Donald Trump

Jeffrey Epstein

Lawsuit

Media

Politics

Movie industry insiders projected an abysmal opening weekend for “Melania,” a film about the first lady, but were quickly proven wrong when it was projected to rake in at least $8 million, if not more.
While liberals gloated over screenshots of supposedly empty theaters, the movie has outperformed expectations, especially in the South and South-central part of the country, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-melania-opening-weekend-1236490092/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. About three quarters of the audience was women aged 55 and older. 
The outlet noted that Amazon MGM paid $40 million for licensing rights and spent an estimated $35 million on marketing. At the premiere in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night, Melania told the press that success to her didn’t depend on box office numbers anyway.
“I’m very proud of the film, so people may like it, may [not] like it, and that’s their choice,” the first lady told CNN outside the premiere.
“We achieved what we want to achieve,” Melania later added. “For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="MELANIA | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dxXJAqOU00g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
As predicted, legacy media critics absolutely trashed the film, giving it an overall rating of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes &#8212; but that’s a vast departure from what audiences are saying. With a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 99% and a Cinemascore of &#8220;A,&#8221; many viewers praised the glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of Melania in the 20 days leading up to her husband Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
“An inside look at inaugural preparations, done in style,” one verified reviewer wrote. “Also getting to know our First Lady in a more personal way. The lady who is smart, elegant, stylish, beautiful &amp; someone who loves this country &amp; appreciates all that it offers.”
“Wow. Thought I may like it for the fashion take on it. But it was so much more. Absolutely loved it. Regardless if you like her or not- this documentary was really, really good,” another moviegoer agreed.
“Melania” is directed by Brett Ratner, who is best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise.
The first lady previously mentioned the inspiration for the documentary while accepting Fox Nation’s “Patriot of the Year” award.
“A first of its kind, capturing the 20 days of my life before the inauguration, 20 intense days of transformation from private citizen to first lady, balancing my business, my philanthropy, fostering the future, building my East Wing team and the White House staff, and, of course, caring for my family,” she said at the time.
“Melania” began screening in theaters nationwide on Friday.

Box Office Triumph: ‘Melania’ Doc Smashes Predictions, Heads To $8M+ Opening Weekend

Box Office Triumph: 'Melania' Doc Smashes Predictions, Heads To $8M+ Opening Weekend

Documentaries

Entertainment

Hollywood

Movies

The first lady debuted her new autobiographical film, “Melania,” at the Trump-Kennedy Center on Thursday night, saying she already considers it a success regardless of critical reception or box office performance.
“I’m very proud of the film so people may like it, may don’t like it, and that’s their choice,” Melania Trump told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/29/politics/melania-trump-documentary-premiere-red-carpet">CNN</a> outside the premiere. “We achieved what we want to achieve,” Melania added later. “For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”
President Donald Trump also attended the premiere, walking a red carpet that was black to match the film’s black-and-white aesthetic. 
“She’s very smart, very measured — sometimes, when I’m not so measured, she measures you,” Trump said to one reporter about his wife of more than 20 years. 
“I think they knew she was smart, but perhaps, maybe they’ll get her to see something that elevates her above just the word ‘smart,’” the president said at another point, as the Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2026/01/29/melania-trump-documentary-premiere-kennedy-center/">reported</a>. “She’s got a lot of high quality.”
“It really brings back a glamour that you just don’t see anymore,” he told the outlet. “Our country could use a little bit of that.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="MELANIA | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dxXJAqOU00g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The media were not invited to view the film, but several government officials in attendance had glowing things to say about the first lady. 
“She’s one of the most gracious people,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said of Melania.
“She’s not the caricature that we’ve been fed,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. agreed.
Melania signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Amazon MGM Studios and served as executive producer on the project. Filming began in December 2024 and documents the 20 days leading up to her return to the White House.
“Melania” is directed by Brett Ratner, who is best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise.
The first lady previously mentioned the inspiration for the documentary while accepting Fox Nation’s “Patriot of the Year” award.
“A first of its kind, capturing the 20 days of my life before the inauguration, 20 intense days of transformation from private citizen to first lady, balancing my business, my philanthropy, fostering the future, building my East Wing team and the White House staff, and, of course, caring for my family,” she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-documentary-trailer-promises-inside-look-at-the-first-ladys-return-to-the-white-house">said</a> at the time.
“Melania” began screening in theaters nationwide on Friday.

First Lady Says ‘Melania’ Documentary Is ‘Already Successful’

First Lady Says 'Melania' Documentary Is 'Already A Success' 

Box Office

President Donald Trump has never lacked confidence, but rest assured, he is routinely humbled by the only person who has unlimited access to the commander in chief: his wife.
&#8220;My wife hates when I do this&#8221; is the line President Trump said Tuesday, but it&#8217;s also the line every husband says before jovially doing the one thing that pushes their wives&#8217; buttons.
&#8220;She hates when I dance,&#8221; Trump said.
First Lady Melania Trump is not a fan of the signature Trump YMCA dance because, let&#8217;s be honest, most wives shield their eyes when their husbands pull out their silly dance moves.
&#8220;It&#8217;s so unpresidential, but I said I did become president,&#8221; Trump said with a smirk.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨Trump says that Melania &#8220;hates&#8221; when he does the Trump dance:
&#8220;She said, &#8216;It&#8217;s so unpresidential.&#8217; I said, &#8216;But I did become president.'&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ZdObLY0fza">pic.twitter.com/ZdObLY0fza</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/2008569133202579566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
At a House GOP retreat on Tuesday, Trump reminded America that at the end of the day, married folks are all the same.
&#8220;She said, &#8216;They don&#8217;t like it, they are just being nice to you.&#8217; I said, &#8216;That&#8217;s not right, the place goes crazy.&#8217; They&#8217;re screaming &#8216;dance!'&#8221; Trump said.
Like any wife trying to help make her husband better, Melania presented her case thoroughly for Trump to retire his dance moves.
&#8220;She actually said, &#8216;Could you imagine FDR dancing?&#8217; She said that to me,&#8221; Trump said.
In a typical husband response, Trump told his wife, &#8220;Everybody wants me to dance.&#8221;
Insert whatever your husband&#8217;s party trick is into &#8220;everyone wants me to __.&#8221;
Is Trump going to stop doing his dance? No! And every time he does the dance, he is secretly thinking about Melania playfully rolling her eyes at him.
Trump also said Melania hates when he imitates trans-identifying athletes weightlifting as he proceeded to do a toned-down impression because he knows he&#8217;s walking a line.
&#8220;I want to be more, but I have somebody watching,&#8221; Trump said after his weightlifting impersonation.
If a wife cannot relate to Melania finding something her husband does embarrassing, then I&#8217;m sorry, that person is married to an A.I. robot.
But it seems people did find the Trump and Melania&#8217;s squabble relatable.
&#8220;Trump says Melania doesn’t like his YMCA dancing. This is great. Funniest president ever,&#8221; OutKick Founder Clay Travis <a href="https://x.com/ClayTravis/status/2008592239883415668?s=20">said</a>.
&#8220;The Trumps are real people!&#8221; David Freeman <a href="https://x.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2008567706757599391?s=20">said</a>.
Take a wild guess how Trump ended his speech about Melania hating his dance?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TRUMP DANCE AT THE TRUMP KENNEDY CENTER! 🕺🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/sbJnMNpuWc">pic.twitter.com/sbJnMNpuWc</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2008579085296156766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
Cue the music &#8212; and Melania, close your eyes, because Trump isn&#8217;t missing a chance to cut a rug in 2026.

Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/ Alex Wong via Getty Images

Melania Hating Trump’s Dancing Is The Most Wife Thing Ever

Executive

A trailer for the upcoming documentary film “Melania,” based on the first lady, debuted today. The movie is scheduled for release in theaters on January 30.
The teaser highlights several behind-the-scenes moments in the days leading up to President Trump’s inauguration. “Here we go again,” Melania says in the opening moments of the trailer as she walks into the US Capitol on Inauguration Day.
At another point, the first lady answers the phone and says, “Hi, Mr. President. Congratulations,” as she looks out at the Manhattan skyline.
President Trump can be heard asking, “Did you watch it?”
“I did not. Yeah. I will see it on the news,” Melania replies. The trailer then cuts to a January photo shoot at the White House.
The short trailer also includes brief clips of the Trumps with White House staff, snapshots from Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower, and the first lady laying a white lily by a tombstone.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale &#8211; Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
In another scene, Melania listens to her husband practicing a speech and interjects with an additional remark. When President Trump describes himself as a “peacemaker,” she chimes in saying, “Peacemaker and unifier.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="MELANIA | Official Trailer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dxXJAqOU00g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Melania signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Amazon MGM Studios and is an executive producer of the project. It began filming in December 2024 and documents the 20 days around her return to the White House.
“Melania” is directed by Brett Ratner, who is best known for the “Rush Hour” franchise. 
The first lady previously <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/politics/melania-trump-documentary-trailer">mentioned</a> the inspiration for the documentary while accepting Fox Nation’s “Patriot of the Year” award.
“A first of its kind, capturing the 20 days of my life before the inauguration, 20 intense days of transformation from private citizen to first lady, balancing my business, my philanthropy, fostering the future, building my East Wing team and the White House staff, and, of course, caring for my family,” she said at the time.

‘Melania’ Documentary Trailer Promises Inside Look At The First Lady’s Return To The White House

'Melania' Documentary Trailer Released: 'Here We Go Again'

Some hopeful news emerged, even as the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on. First Lady Melania Trump’s office just announced that seven additional children — six boys and one girl — have been reunited with their families in Ukraine as part of a humanitarian effort.
The first lady released the following statement on the news: “My dedication to guaranteeing the safe return of children to their families in this region is unwavering.”
Trump <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/seven-more-children-returned-families-ukraine-melania-trump-says-2025-12-04/">revealed</a> in October that eight Ukrainian children who had been displaced during the conflict were reunited with their families, bringing the total number of reunited families to 15. 
“I commend the leadership and persistent diplomacy of Russia and Ukraine in the pursuit of the reunification of children and families,” the statement continued. “Their bridge-building has created a tangible collaborative environment — an anchor for optimism. This cooperation will continue to drive the process forward through the next phase.”
“In close partnership, my representative and I have provided humanitarian support from the United States to enhance the reunification initiative’s outcome. My hope is that, ultimately, our collective efforts will lead to broader regional stability.”
The Kremlin’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, <a href="https://t.me/malvovabelova/6040">posted</a> on Telegram, thanking the first lady for her “unwavering commitment and involvement in the effort.”
Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, President Trump said that his team is making “tremendous progress” toward ending the years-long Russia-Ukraine war, offering updates on his peace negotiations.  
Trump confirmed that no more meetings would take place until Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached the final stages of a resolution, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-vows-no-meetings-with-putin-zelensky-until-the-deal-to-end-this-war-is-final">reported</a>.
“Let’s all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!” Trump said in part in a statement last week.
The president’s statement came after news that Ukraine has agreed to the terms of a potential peace deal, negotiated by the Trump White House, that could end the years-long war with Russia.
“The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll told ABC News on November 25. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.”
Mary Margaret Olohan contributed to this report.

First Lady Melania Trump

Melania Trump Says 7 More Ukrainian Children Reunited With Their Families

Melania Trump Announces 7 More Ukrainian Children Were Reunited With Their Families

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

The White House released First Lady Melania Trump’s theme for the holiday season yesterday, and it inspired viewers to reflect on the debacle of 2023 and the major bullet our country dodged last November.
The first lady teamed up with her longtime designer and stylist Hervé Pierre to bring an elegant, traditional look to the White House, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-transforms-white-house-for-christmas-with-ten-thousand-butterflies?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Melania+Transforms+White+House+For+Christmas+With+Ten+Thousand+Butterflies">reported</a>. This stands in stark contrast to the “woke clowns” that Jill Biden showcased while her husband was still in office in December 2023.
Melania Trump’s theme for 2025, “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” features 10,000 blue butterflies. Many social media users have juxtaposed the classy promo video just released by the White House with the frenetic, colorful chaos from Biden&#8217;s Christmas video two years ago.
“There’s no comparison between the Biden White House and the Trump White House Christmas,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/Sassafrass_84/status/1995529566580855075">posted</a> on X. “Melania is pure class. Love my Flotus.”
“A return to elegance at the White House,” another <a href="https://x.com/T_Q_Gardner/status/1995559798100857262">said</a>.
“Flashback: Jill Biden made a mocked Christmas by featuring woke clowns in her Christmas decorations! Just announced: We&#8217;re so back!!!” another user <a href="https://x.com/Huberton/status/1995537729270988802?s=20">added</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First Lady Melania Trump has released a video for this year’s Christmas at the White House: &#8220;Home is Where the Heart Is.&#8221;
Flashback: Jill Biden made a mocked Christmas by featuring woke clowns in her Christmas decorations!
Just announced: We&#8217;re so back!!! 🇺🇸✝️ <a href="https://t.co/U0pXkVX65Y">pic.twitter.com/U0pXkVX65Y</a>
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Huberton/status/1995537729270988802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I love Melania Trump, and her impeccable taste! Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas,&#8221; another user <a href="https://x.com/MaryandBessie/status/1995531044846784612">gushed</a>.
50% off DailyWire+ annual memberships will not return for another year, so don’t miss this deal! Join now at <a class="c-link" href="http://dailywire.com/cyberweek" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://DailyWire.com/cyberweek" data-sk="tooltip_parent">DailyWire.com/cyberweek</a>.
At the time, Biden’s holiday decorations were dubbed “bizarre,” “freaky,” and “cringey.” The Dorrance Dance group website also encouraged support of organizations like Black Lives Matter and advocated for a group called “Showing Up For Racial Justice” that “moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice,” as The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-blasted-for-bizarre-freaky-christmas-video">reported</a> at the time.
Some commenters pointed out that if Kamala Harris had won in 2024, the White House Christmas decor would more closely resemble 2023, in all likelihood.

White House Christmas

Melania Praised For ‘Impeccable’ White House Christmas Decorations After Biden’s ‘Woke Clowns’

Melania Trump Praised For 'Impeccable' White House Christmas Decorations After Biden's 'Woke Clowns'

Christmas

Jill Biden

Washington D.C.

White House

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD—In a warm show of support to military families ahead of the Christmas holiday, First Lady Melania Trump and Second Lady Usha Vance spent Monday afternoon visiting with military families and crafting care packages for deployed service members.
&#8220;May this Christmas bring peace to your homes, safety to those who are deployed, and gratitude in the hearts of every American who thanks you for your service and sacrifice,&#8221; the first lady told the gathered guests.
Trump and Vance joined organizers with the American Red Cross at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the base where Trump administration officials, the vice president, and the president himself fly out of on Air Force One, Air Force Two, or other presidential aircraft around the world. The base is home to 26,000 joint military and civilian personnel and their families and is made up of every service component.
<div id="attachment_1008205" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-usha-vance-honor-military-families-deployed-troops-with-care-packages/first-lady-melania-trump-hosts-american-red-cross-holiday-care-package-event-with-military-spouses-3" rel="attachment wp-att-1008205"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1008205" class="wp-image-1008205 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248830033-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248830033-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248830033-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248830033-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248830033.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND &#8211; DECEMBER 01: First lady Melania Trump (2nd R) helps make Red Cross holiday care packages during an event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)</div>
<div role="button" aria-label="28 seconds I'm also particularly grateful to be"></div>
<div class="segment style-scope ytd-transcript-segment-renderer" role="button" aria-label="28 seconds I'm also particularly grateful to be">&#8220;I always look forward to returning to America&#8217;s airfield and to the incredible community that supports its mission,&#8221; Usha Vance said with a smile, as she delivered brief remarks and introduced the first lady.  &#8220;JD and I are inspired every time we fly by your care and professionalism and are deeply grateful for your service.&#8221;</div>
During Monday&#8217;s event, Trump and Vance created care packages for deployed service members and wrote cards to these deployed troops. They laughed and chatted with military spouses, and they offered a message to those present: their sacrifice does not go unnoticed.
&#8220;Today, we are surrounded by people whose strength is often quiet, but always powerful,&#8221; the first lady said in prepared remarks as the event began. &#8220;We speak regularly of the bravery of our service members—and we should. But we must also illuminate the bravery of those who walk beside them. The spouses who carry the weight of family life on top of their own dreams.&#8221;
&#8220;Your lives require a resilience that few outside the military can understand,&#8221; Trump told the military families. &#8220;Moves that take you across the country, and around the world. Holidays spent with an empty chair at the table. Milestones celebrated over a screen because the person you love is thousands of miles away.&#8221;
The first lady praised the families of service members for standing strong throughout the hardships that military families must endure.
<div id="attachment_1008207" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-usha-vance-honor-military-families-deployed-troops-with-care-packages/first-lady-melania-trump-hosts-american-red-cross-holiday-care-package-event-with-military-spouses-4" rel="attachment wp-att-1008207"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1008207" class="wp-image-1008207 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843274-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843274-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843274-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843274-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843274.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND &#8211; DECEMBER 01: First lady Melania Trump (R) and second lady Usha Vance (L) speak as they write cards during a Red Cross holiday care package event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;Through every transition, every deployment, every homecoming,&#8221; she said, &#8220;you continue to show grace, determination, and unbreakable spirit. You keep life steady for your children. You manage homes, careers, finances, and schedules … all while giving comfort to your family. You carry this extra responsibility, because you love someone who has sworn to serve.&#8221;
Trump pushed those present to also take care of themselves, arguing that their well-being is &#8220;vital — not just for your families, but for your own future.&#8221;
&#8220;Your journey matters,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Your voice matters. And your strength continues to inspire us all.&#8221;
FLOTUS and Vance were joined at the event by a number of the spouses of Trump&#8217;s cabinet secretaries: Jennifer Rauchet, spouse of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Kathryn Burgum, spouse of Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Cheryl Hines, spouse of HHS Secretary RFK Jr., Liz Wright, spouse of Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Lisa Collins, spouse of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, and Marlo Greer, spouse of the United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
<div id="attachment_1008209" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-usha-vance-honor-military-families-deployed-troops-with-care-packages/first-lady-melania-trump-hosts-american-red-cross-holiday-care-package-event-with-military-spouses-5" rel="attachment wp-att-1008209"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1008209" class="wp-image-1008209 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843639-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843639-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843639-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843639-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/12/GettyImages-2248843639.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Jennifer Rauchet (C), the wife of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, participates in a Red Cross holiday care package event inside a hangar on December 1, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)</div>
As the first and second ladies chatted with guests and wrote holiday cards for deployed troops, soft Christmas jazz played, and those gathered snacked on hot cocoa and cookies.
&#8220;Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!&#8221; Trump wrote on one card shown to the press. &#8220;Thank you for your service, our nation is proud of you! Warm wishes, Melania Trump.”
Red Cross Organizers at Monday&#8217;s event said that they planned to make 700 care packages total, packages that would include Rice Krispies, hydration packs, Slim Jims, tissues, peanuts, granola bars, popcorn packets, and handwritten notes.
&#8220;Every package built here today is built with American values,&#8221; Trump noted. &#8220;Each represents liberty, love, community, and honor. Each is delivered with heart and love. The foundation of our great nation.&#8221;
Usha Vance similarly described the packages as &#8220;part of a proud and enduring tradition.&#8221;
&#8220;The Red Cross began distributing these packages during World War I and has continued that work ever since,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;Each year, more than 220,000 active duty and veteran families also receive Red Cross assistance wherever they are, whenever they need it. It&#8217;s an honor to contribute to that legacy of service today. As we enter the holiday season, may we be reminded of our shared responsibility for our communities, our neighbors, and our nation, and may we continue to lift up those who serve and sacrifice for our country.&#8221;

Melania Trump, Usha Vance Honor Military Families, Deployed Troops With Care Packages

Military

Usha Vance

Americans unwrapped an early present this morning when the White House unveiled its highly anticipated 2025 Christmas theme: Home Is Where The Heart Is. First Lady Melania Trump enlisted her longtime designer and stylist, Hervé Pierre, to bring the holiday spirit to the People’s House with elegance and flair.
True to the “Trump 2.0” motto of transformation, the 2025 display features 10,000 blue butterflies in the Red Room and halls of the White House. “The striking color combination coupled with the butterflies&#8217; symbolic meaning of transformation and renewal capture the essence of Christmas,” Trump said in a statement from her office.
Staying true to tradition, the first lady selected wreaths with red bows for the White House windows and oversaw the installation of 50 Christmas trees, 700 feet of garland, and 25,000 feet of ribbon to transform the historic residence for the holiday season.
Melania Trump said her inspiration came from the joys, challenges, and frequent motion derived from motherhood and business. “The constant movement has taught me that home is not merely a physical space; rather, it is the warmth and comfort I carry within, regardless of my surroundings.” She added that the display reflects the idea that “wherever we are, we can create a home filled with grace, radiance, and endless possibilities.”
That sentiment is especially embodied in the Blue Room, where the official White House Christmas tree honors Gold Star families. The 18-foot Concolor Fir from Sidney, Michigan, is adorned with gold stars and ornaments representing the official bird and official flower of every U.S. state and territory, paying tribute to “the resilience, bravery, and sacrifice of military personnel and their families.”
Hinting at a future celebration, the East Room showcases trees with bases marked with “America 250.” The trees are donned with decorations in America’s red, white, and blue to “accentuate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Nation.” National symbols including eagles, the Great Seal, roses, and oak cover the tree. The room includes two Presidential Portraits made up of puzzle pieces, offering visiting families “the chance to be challenged … and use their imagination together.”
Christmas 2025 marks Melania Trump’s fifth time decorating the White House, a tradition that dates back to Jacqueline Kennedy. Known for her elegant style, Melania has drawn parallels to the iconic first lady. Vanity Fair dubbed her “<a href="https://people.com/politics/melania-trump-vanity-fair-mexico-next-jackie-kennedy/">the new Jackie Kennedy</a>” in 2017.
Kennedy <a href="https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/jacqueline-kennedy-refines-the-season-photo-2">started the tradition</a> of selecting a theme for the official White House Christmas tree in 1961, when she adorned the tree with ornamental toys, birds, and angels modeled after Petr Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” ballet. In the North Entrance, she decorated the Christmas tree with ornaments made by disabled or senior citizen craftspeople in the United States.
Trump hopes that as Americans explore the historic residence this holiday season, the 2025 decorations will serve as a reminder that “the strength of our Nation is found in its people—in our shared values, valued traditions, and the steadfast belief that home is where the heart is.”

Screenshot 2025-12-01 at 2.53.04 PM

Melania Transforms White House For Christmas With Ten Thousand Butterflies

WASHINGTON—In a stunning show of executive authority, President Donald Trump today exercised the power granted to him under Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution “to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States.”
The lucky duck was a turkey named Gobble. Unlike in previous years, those assembled in the Rose Garden on this drizzly Tuesday morning knew which bird would be spared right away: First Lady Melania Trump’s office asked Americans to choose which bird her husband would pardon, and he alone was present at Tuesday’s ceremony.
Gathered on the dais were a who’s-who of the Trump Cabinet: Vice President JD Vance with his wife, Usha, and their children; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“This is a big day, a pardon day for a very important beast,” Trump said, prompting a gobble from Gobble. “That’s a well-trained turkey. See how happy he is?”
At one point during the event, Weather Report’s 1977 jazz fusion hit “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Birdland</a>” played over the Rose Garden speakers, a clever musical wink for those who caught the tune.
Trump joked that when he first saw a picture of Gobble and runner-up Waddle, he wanted to “call them Chuck and Nancy,” a reference to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump jokes that he wanted to call today&#8217;s turkeys Chuck &amp; Nancy💀😂
&#8220;I shouldn&#8217;t say this. I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I wouldn&#8217;t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/LT49QgTnJU">pic.twitter.com/LT49QgTnJU</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1993376794062545075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“But then I realized I wouldn’t pardon those two people. I would never pardon them, I don’t care what Melania would tell me.”
Schumer and Pelosi weren’t the only Democrats to draw a presidential jab at the ceremony. Touting his administration’s success in cracking down on crime in Washington and Memphis, Trump called on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to allow them to do the same in Chicago.
“Governor Pritzker, if you’re listening, let’s get your act together,” Trump said before noting that he would not “talk about the fact that he’s a fat slob.”
“I don’t mention it,” Trump said, adding that “I’d like to lose a few pounds.”
“But I’m not gonna lose it on Thanksgiving, I’ll tell you that. Because I’m gonna have a turkey, but it’s not gonna be that one.”
Trump also joked that all of President Joe Biden’s turkey pardons were null and void because his predecessor signed them with an autopen — but that he intervened to spare last year’s turkeys, Peach and Blossom, from the slaughterhouse.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> declares last year&#8217;s presidential turkey pardons INVALID because Biden used an autopen.😂
Thankfully, he intervened and granted Peach and Blossom a valid pardon to kick off today&#8217;s ceremony. <a href="https://t.co/BaxdOaLhIZ">pic.twitter.com/BaxdOaLhIZ</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1993370734060802197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Waddle, who Trump joked was “missing in action,” also received a presidential pardon and will step up as the National Thanksgiving Turkey should Gobble be unable to discharge his duties.
“Gobble, you’re pardoned!” the president said, evoking his famous television catch phrase.
About an hour before the pardon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ushered Waddle into the briefing room to meet the White House press corps. Leavitt stood by with her son (wearing a “Mama’s Little Turkey” shirt) as an excited press pool shouted questions at Waddle.
One journalist immediately asked if Waddle had a comment on Ukraine. The turkey had no comment.
<div id="attachment_1005925" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1005925" class="size-large wp-image-1005925" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2248382649-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2248382649-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2248382649-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2248382649-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2248382649.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Waddle and Karoline Leavitt’s son, Niko (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)</div>
After departing the White House grounds today, Gobble and Waddle will return to their home state of North Carolina, where they will take up residence at NC State University alongside Chocolate and Chip, the turkeys Biden pardoned in 2022.
Alex Davidson, Senior Director of Public Affairs at the National Turkey Federation, said that Gobble and Waddle will be “agricultural ambassadors for the rest of their lives.”
Davidson also gave The Daily Wire the inside scoop on how the turkeys are selected. Every year, the National Turkey Federation’s rotating chairman designates a state from which the turkeys will hail — generally the chairman’s home state. The current chair, Butterball CEO Jay Jandrain, picked North Carolina, “the second largest turkey state in the country, after Minnesota,” Davidson says.
This year’s presidential flock was raised by Travis and Amanda Pittman of Wayne County (“I like Wayne County,” Trump remarked when thanking the Pitmans, noting that he did well there in the last election).
Davidson says that presidential turkeys are selected at a young age and raised just like any other bird, though they are given early exposure to lights and music to prepare them for the hustle and bustle of the national stage.
As pardon day gets closer, the flock of around 50 birds is whittled down to two finalists. According to the National Turkey Federation, the <a href="https://www.eatturkey.org/presidentialflock/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning turkeys</a> are those that have the best “physical appearance and temperament,” proof that looks matter, even in Washington.
Trump also touted the cost of turkey and other Thanksgiving foods. Turkey prices are down 16% from last year, according to a <a href="https://www.fb.org/news-release/cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner-declines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new report </a>from the American Farm Bureau Federation. All told, the cost of an average Thanksgiving dinner is down 5% from 2024.
It’s generally held that Abraham Lincoln performed the first turkey pardon when he spared a bird at the request of his son, Tad. But the turkey pardon really traces its roots back to 1947, when the National Turkey Federation sent a 47-pound bird to President Harry Truman, a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/25/nx-s1-5620579/turkey-presidential-pardon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peace offering</a> after the group sparred with the White House over postwar poultry rationing.
John F. Kennedy is said to have given the first presidential <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/presidential-turkey-pardons-not-long-history-you-might-think-f2D11663410" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turkey pardon</a>, remarking “we’ll just let this one grow.” But as with most good things in Washington, the pardon tradition really took shape under Ronald Reagan.
After being grilled about pardons for those involved in the Iran-Contra scandal during a 1987 press conference with Charlie the Turkey, the <a href="https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/informal-exchange-reporters-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gipper quipped</a> that, had he not been assured Charlie would head to a children’s farm, he “would have pardoned him.”
Since 1989, turkeys have been pardoned in an official White House ceremony, a tradition begun by President George H.W. Bush. Today, the pardon is just a high point in a long series of events for the turkeys, who are brought to Washington a few days early to make the rounds with the media. Gobble and Waddle reportedly did 20 interviews on Monday, before turning in for a night at the Willard InterContinental Hotel.
The hotel staff loves when the turkeys check in, Davidson says — and apparently the fowl are not that foul, as far as these things go. The National Turkey Federation prepares their swanky suite with layers of plastic and wood chips, and federation staffers clean up after the birds head up to Pennsylvania Avenue.
“We leave it like we found it,” Davidson said.

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