Donald Trump carried out the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon with his trademark blend of humor, showmanship, and pointed political jabs. Joined by First Lady Melania Trump, he kept the crowd entertained while a professional lip reader later caught an unexpected off-mic remark that added even more intrigue to the event.

As he stepped up for the tradition dating back to Abraham Lincoln—and formalized by George H.W. Bush in 1989—Trump introduced this year’s fortunate birds, Gobble and Wade. The pair arrived in true VIP style, spending the night before in a $400 suite at the Willard Hotel. Their host, hotel manager Jaap Boelens, joked that the turkeys were welcomed with a red carpet and seemed to settle in so well that they “raided the mini bar.”

During his remarks, Trump shifted smoothly into political satire, quipping that he briefly considered naming the turkeys Chuck and Nancy, referencing Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. He added that if he had done so, “I wouldn’t be pardoning them,” even joking that not even Melania could persuade him otherwise.

Gobble and Wade will now enjoy a calm retirement at North Carolina State University’s Prestage Department of Poultry Science. Trump closed with another playful line, claiming Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had officially labeled them “first-era MAHA turkeys,” a nod to his “Make America Healthy Again” slogan.