President Biden pardoned two turkeys at the White House Monday, continuing a presidential tradition of letting some birds off the hook for Thanksgiving.

The National Turkey Federation has donated turkeys to the president ahead of Thanksgiving since 1947 under President Harry Truman. President John F. Kennedy is believed to be the first president to spare the turkey, and President George H. W. Bush was the first to formalize the "pardon" tradition.

Biden last year pardoned turkeys named "Peanut Butter" and "Jelly" from Indiana. This year’s turkeys, "Chocolate" and "Chip," which the president noted is his favorite ice cream flavor, come from North Carolina.

Biden delivered remarks at the White House event, which he said he would keep short because "nobody likes it when their turkey gets cold." 

The president also joked that the only red wave this year will be if his large German Shepherd dog, named Commander, knocks over the cranberry sauce during Thanksgiving, in a nod to the midterm elections which did not see overwhelming Republican victories as expected.