What Was on the Menu at President-Elect Donald Trump's Thanksgiving Dinner
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Your Thanksgiving spread didn't have anything on President-elect Donald Trump's.
The incoming president spent the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, with his family after hours of calls to prepare for his transition to the White House.
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President John F. Kennedy reaches out to touch a big, 40-pound turkey, presented to him Nov. 19, 1963, at the White House. the presentation was made on behalf of the nation's turkey industry. Attending the ceremony, from left: Mildred Smith of Ellicott City, Md., wife of turkey farmer Morris G. Smith; Robert M. McPherrin, Sunnymead, Calif., president of the National Turkey Federation; and Senator Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.). (AP Photo/Harvey Georges)
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President John F. Kennedy was the first president to pardon a turkey in 1963. Here, he is shown with the first pardoned bird. Originally, the plan was just part of a Thanksgiving presentation but Kennedy decided that the bird should live and, thus, spawned a tradition.
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The 1984 bird was a lively one. Here, President Ronald Reagan is shown protecting himself from flying feathers as the 53 pound bird flapped his wings. The bird was named R.J., short for "Robust and Juicy."
Vice president Richard Nixon, "shakes hands" with a 40-pound bird in 1955.
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President Ronald Reagan, with Peter Hermanson, president of the National Turkey Federation, took part in the annual White House Thanksgiving turkey presentation on Friday, Nov. 19, 1988 The gobbler, named Woody, was from from Iowa.
President George H.W. Bush is shown here as he pardoned a turkey in 1992. The ceremony is usually performed in the White House's Rose Garden.
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President Bill Clinton was accompanied by nine-year-old Shawn Arbogast to pardon the annual turkey in 1994. The bird, Tom, spent the rest of his life living in Flying Pan Park in Chantilly, Va.
In 1996, Carl the turkey, wore a White House visitor's badge during his presidential pardon. He was pardoned by Bill Clinton and sent to live in a Virginia petting farm.
The bird that was pardoned in 1998, roams the White House lawn while Clinton prepared to speak to the crowd.
Marshmallow was pardoned by President George W. Bush in 2005. After the ceremony, he was flown to California where he served as an honorary marshal in Disneyland's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Bush pardoned Flyer in 2006. Here, he is shown petting the bird before the start of the annual ceremony.
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President George W. Bush pardoned his final turkey, Pumpkin, on Nov. 26, 2008.
President Obama (right) pardoned the turkey Courage in 2009. Here, the president is shown speaking to the ceremony onlookers.
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Obama has long made the turkey pardoning a family affair. To date, he has never done the ceremony without his daughters by his side. Here he is shown pardoning 'Liberty', a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey on Nov. 23, 2011.
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President Obama was accompanied by his daughters, Sasha and Malia,for the 2012 Pardon. Cobbler was named the "National Thanksgiving Turkey" in 2012.
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President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha and Malia, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving the national turkey, Popcorn, from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, as John Burkel, current chairman of the National Turkey Federation in Badger, Minn, stands left. After the pardoning, Popcorn travels to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens where he will be on display for visitors during "Christmas at Mount Vernon."
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US President Barack Obama prepares to "pardon" the National Thanksgiving Turkey in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 25, 2015.
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Tater and Tot, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate, are shown to members of the media during a press conference held by the National Turkey Federation Nov. 22, 2016, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. The two turkeys will both be "pardoned" following the presentation of the national turkey to U.S. President Barack Obama scheduled for tomorrow.
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Tater and Tot, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, Nov. 22, 2016.
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President Barack Obama, joined by his nephews Aaron and Austin Robinson, pardons his last turkey, Tot, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016.
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Drumstick and Wishbone, the turkeys President Donald Trump pardoned in 2017, are seen at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington D.C. ahead of their introduction at the Rose Garden on Nov. 20, 2017.
Earlier Thursday, Trump tweeted that he was working to get the Carrier Corporation to keep its plant in Indiana. Officials said his Thanksgiving was shared with family over a five-course meal.
Below is the menu:
First Course Large Florida Stone Crabs Oysters on the Half Shell Jumbo Shrimp Middle Neck Clams
Second Course Mr. Trump’s Wedge Salad Farm Fresh Deviled Eggs Roasted Vegetable Cous Cous Salad Ahi Tuna Martinis
Third Course Main Lobster Bisque Local Vegetable Minestrone Soup
Fourth Course Oven Roasted Turkey Traditional Stuffing Sweet Mashed Potatoes House Made Gravy Herb Marinated Beef Tenderloin Steamed Vegetables Whipped Potatoes Warm Popovers Horseradish Cream Chef Carved Leg of Lamb Grilled Pita and Tzatziki Sauce Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass Curried Vegetables, Coconut Shellfish Broth Red Wine Braised Short Ribs Herb Roasted Potatoes Natural Braising Jus Grilled Diver Scallops Roasted Vegetable Ratatouille
Fifth Course Three Layer Trump Chocolate Cake Pumpkin Pie Toasted Coconut Cake Chocolate Eclairs Pecan Pie Warm Chocolate Brownie Pockets Creamy Key Lime Pie Hot Apple Crisp
Wondering how that spread stacks up with the one prepared for the current Commander-in-Chief? The Hill reports that the Obamas' final Thanksgiving dinner at the White House included a three-course meal featuring mini BLTs, mini pizzas and pigs-in-a-blanket as hors d'ouvres, a thyme roasted turkey for the main course and six kinds of pies for dessert.
