PoliticsDonald TrumpelectionsTurkey

Trump's 2018 Turkey Pardon Bizarrely Foreshadowed 2020 Election

In 2018, the president pardoned a turkey named “Carrots” who had lost “a fair and open election” but “refused to concede."
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

As coincidences go, this one is pretty bird-brained.

Some people who’ve witnessed President Donald Trump’s recent unwillingness to concede the election to Joe Biden are seeing parallels to Trump’s 2018 turkey pardon.

Two Thanksgivings ago, the president pardoned a turkey named “Carrots” who had lost “a fair and open election” in the form of a White House poll over which of two turkeys should be spared, according to Snopes.

But while “Carrots” lost the election to “Peas,” Trump claimed the turkey “refused to concede and demanded a recount.” 

The president then claimed that even though the recount did not change the vote, he was going to pardon both birds.

This year, the president chose to grant a full pardon to a 42-pound turkey named “Corn,” and pretty much stuck to the script, according to Reuters.

However, one reporter felt obligated to see if the president was planning to issue any other pardons, mainly to himself.

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Before You Go

Presidential Turkey Pardons
Obama Pardons Liberty & Peace (2011)(01 of23)
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President Barack Obama pardoned two turkeys, Liberty and Peace, in 2011. Liberty, a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey, is featured in the picture with the president and his daughters Sasha and Malia. An alternate turkey named Peace was also pardoned. (credit:AP)
Obama Pardons Apple & Cider (2010)(02 of23)
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In 2010, President Barack Obama pardoned two turkeys -- Apple and Cider. (credit:Getty Images)
Obama Pardons Courage (2009)(03 of23)
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President Barack Obama pardoned Courage, a 20-week-old and 45-pound turkey, in 2009. Alternate turkey Carolina was also pardoned. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Pecan & Pumpkin (2008)(04 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned turkeys named Peace and Pumpkin in 2008. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons May & Flower (2007)(05 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned two turkeys, May and Flower, in 2007. (credit:AP)
Bush Pardons Flyer & Fryer (2006)(06 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned a Turkey named Flyer, and another named Fryer, in 2006. Flyer is featured in the picture. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Marshmallow & Yam (2005)(07 of23)
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President George. W Bush pardoned Marshmallow, who is featured in the picture, and Yam in 2005.(2nd-R) speaks with James Trites(R), of Minnesota, who raised Marshmallow, the national turkey(bottom-R), who was pardoned by Bush during an event in the White House Complex 22 November, 2005 in Washington, DC. Marshmallow, will travel to his new home at Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, following the pardon and will serve as honorary Grand Marshal for Disneyland's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Biscuits & Gravy (2004)(08 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned Biscuits (featured) in 2004. The alternate turkey named Gravy was also pardoned. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Stars & Stripes (2003)(09 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned Stars (featured) and Stripes in 2003. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Katie & Zach (2002)(10 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned Katie, and alternate turkey Zach in 2002. (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Liberty & Freedom (2001)(11 of23)
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President George W. Bush pardoned Liberty and alternate turkey Freedom in 2001. Liberty is featured in the picture. (credit:Getty Images)
Clinton Pardons Jerry (2000)(12 of23)
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President Bill Clinton pardoned a turkey named Jerry in 2000. (credit:Getty Images)
Clinton Pardons Harry (1999)(13 of23)
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President Bill Clinton pardoned a turkey named Harry in 1999. (credit:Getty Images)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1998)(14 of23)
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WASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton stands with the annual Thanksgiving turkey as his handler Walter Gislason (L) looks on during presentation ceremonies 24 November at the White House in Washington, DC. The bird, presented to the President by the National Turkey Federation was given an official pardon from becoming dinner and sent to a local petting zoo. AFP PHOTO/Tim SLOAN (Photo credit should read TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1997)(15 of23)
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WASHINGTON, : US President Bill Clinton (R) poses with the 50th annual Thanksgiving Turkey (Front) which was presented to him by the National Turkey Federation as National Turkey Federation President Stuart Proctor (L) watches during ceremonies, 26 November, at the White House in Washington, DC. This year's National Thanksgiving Day Turkey was raised in Raeford, NC by the Tarheel Turkey Hatchery and after his 'official' pardon will be retired to the Kidwell Farm in Herdon, VA. AFP PHOTO Paul J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1996)(16 of23)
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(credit:AP)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1995)(17 of23)
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President Clinton pets a 75-pound turkey in the Rose Garden of White House Wednesday Nov. 22, 1995 which was presented to him by the National Turkey Federation. Kenneth Rutledge, chairman of the federation looks on at right. As in previous years, the turkey will be granted amnesty and donated to the Kidwell Farms petting zoo in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1994)(18 of23)
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President Bill Clinton looks on as Robert Strickler holds Tom, a 50-pound turkey presented to the president in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Nov. 23, 1994. Stuart Proctor, president, National Turkey Federation, second from left, and Larry Fanella of the NTF, second from right, look on. The president pardoned Tom who will take up residence at the Frying Pan Park in Chantilly, VA. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (credit:AP)
Clinton Pardons Turkey (1993)(19 of23)
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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: U.S. President Bill Clinton poses with a Thanksgiving turkey 24 November 1993 after it was presented to him by National Turkey Federation Chairman Thomas Bross III in ceremonies on the South Lawn of the White House. The 50-pound bird will not be killed but will go to a farm operated by the Fairfax County, Virginia park system. 'It's my first presidential pardon,' the president joked. (Photo credit should read ROBERT GIROUX/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bush Pardons Turkey (1992)(20 of23)
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President George H.W. Bush gestures during a Rose Garden ceremony Tuesday, November 25, 1992 where he pardoned this years Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation. Chuck Helms, left, and Bruce Cuddy stand behind Bush. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson) (credit:AP)
Bush Pardons Turkey (1991)(21 of23)
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President George H. W. Bush, flanked by Gary Ruka, National Turkey Federation president, and his wife, Sheila, accepts the annual Thanksgiving turkey at the White House, Monday, November 25, 1991. The turkey will be given to a children's petting farm. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander) (credit:AP)
Bush Pardons Turkey (1990)(22 of23)
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President Bush laughs as he is presented a Thanksgiving turkey from the National Turkey Federation in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House Wednesday, November 14, 1990. Also attending the ceremony from the National Turkey Federation are Stuart Proctor, left; and Wyatt Upchurch, right. (AP Photo/Doug Mills) (credit:AP)
Bush Pardons Turkey (1989)(23 of23)
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Shannon Duffy, 8, Fairfax, Virginia, reaches out for the Thanksgiving turkey presented to President Bush, Friday, November 17, 1989 by the National Turkey Foundation. President and Mrs. Bush donated the turkey to a Children's petting farm in Virginia. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander) (credit:AP)
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