Every Thanksgiving, the President of the United States pardons a turkey. The custom dates from only 1989 (though both Reagan and Kennedy did offer executive clemency to gift turkeys) and I’m not a fan of it. Were it my call I’d have a chopping block in the Rose Garden…

The White House received its two turkeys, “Bread” and “Butter,” and has documented their journey:

Behind the scenes: The Presidential Turkeys have arrived in D.C. at The Willard Hotel! They’ll visit the White House on Tuesday for the pardoning ceremony and then head to their new home at @virginia_tech's “Gobblers Rest."https://t.co/o10KJHWm0H https://t.co/xkypE5KVOM

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 25, 2019

#WhiteHouse #Thanksgiving #turkeys Bread and Butter take up residence in luxury Willard Hotel in DC ahead of being saved by Trump pic.twitter.com/WVwAYBBEi4

— Hans Solo (@thandojo) November 26, 2019

While the build-up might have been usual, the actual pardon was quintessential Trump:

Video: Here's President Trump joking at the Turkey Pardoning that the turkeys "have been specially raised…to remain calm under any condition which will be very important b/c they have already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff's basement" like "hundreds" of others pic.twitter.com/JJI8GHavh4

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 26, 2019

President @realDonaldTrump

The turkeys "have already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff’s basement… It seems the Democrats are accusing me of being too soft on Turkey. But Bread and butter, I should note that unlike previous witnesses, you and I have actually met." pic.twitter.com/4jeUzSdd4p

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 26, 2019

TRUMP: The Pardoned Turkeys Bread and Butter “have already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff's basement on Thursday.”

“I expect this pardon will be a very popular one with the media. After all, Turkeys are closely related to vultures.”

SAVAGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tT6zmyFANe

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 26, 2019

I’m sure it won’t be long until we read a 1,000-word thinkpiece at The Bulwark or National Review decrying Trump mocking Schiff and his impeachment charade as a danger to the Constitution. There will undoubtedly be a virtue-signaling editorial by some commentary writer at the Washington Examiner about the need for civility. But it is moments like this, when Trump refuses to go along with the kabuki theater carried out by ‘very serious people’, that keeps the voters who elected him loyal.