Donald Trump jokes about slaughtering Obama's pardoned turkeys, but lawyers said he can't

Drumstick the turkey is pardoned by President Donald Trump (left) during an annual presidential tradition attended by his son Barron Trump, and first lady Melania Trump. Photo / AP

Before officially pardoning his first Thanksgiving Turkey, the Minnesota-bred Drumstick, on Tuesday, President Trump joked that he looked into revoking President Obama's turkey pardon from last year.

Trump, standing alongside first lady Melania Trump and his 11-year-old son Barron, pointed out that in his first ten months in office he's worked to overturn the executive actions of his predecessor, President Obama.

"However, I have been informed by the White House counsel's office that Tater and Tot's pardon cannot, under any circumstances, be revoked," the president joked, name-dropping the heir and the spare of last year's turkey pardon, according to the Daily Mail.

Trump, speaking for under 10 minutes, noted how the tradition of having a turkey presented to the president from the National Turkey Federation started 70 years ago during the administration of Harry S. Truman.

Truman, he noted, "did not grant the pardon," Trump said, describing the Democrat as a "tough cookie."

"Today I'm going to be a much nicer president," Trump said, complimenting himself.

"Over the past 10 months, Melania and I have had the pleasure of welcoming many, many special visitors to the great White House," Trumps said.

"We've hosted dozens of incredible world leaders, members of Congress and, along the way, a few very strange birds."

Donald Trump, his son Barron, and his wife Melania look on at the National Thanksgiving Turkey, Drumstick. Photo / AP

"But we have yet to receive any visitors quite like our magnificent guest of honor today, Drumstick," Trump said.

"Drumstick, I think is going to be very happy," Trump purred.

On hand at today's pardon was daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump, sitting alongside her husband, also a White House aide, Jared Kushner and daughter Arabella and son Joseph.

Tiffany Trump, who attends the nearby Georgetown University Law Center, was also on hand.

Carl Wittenburg, the National Turkey Foundation's chairman, who raised the birds, said Drumstick and Wishbone - the understudy - were selected from a flock of 80 for "their character, their temperament, their showmanship and how they looked strutting their stuff."

"So that's really what it gets down to,' Wittenburg told DailyMail.com. 'Can they handle the show."

Trump called out the efforts of Wittenburg and his family, along with the local 4-H chapter who assisted them in raising the birds.

"And I want to say great work," Trump said. "Great jobs you guys."

The two birds arrived in Washington, D.C., Sunday night and were put up in the lavish Willard Hotel, a turkey pardoning tradition.

On Monday, at a press conference at the Willard the birds' names were announced and the White House put up a Twitter poll for Americans to vote on which turkey should get the official pardon.

President Donald Trump pardons Drumstick during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House. Photo / AP

Both birds, the star and the understudy, will get to lives out the rest of their lives at the "Gobbler's Rest" exhibit at Virginia Tech.

"Beautiful place," Trump cooed.

Turkeys bred for slaughter are generally morbidly obese, with many of the presidents' pardoned turkeys living less than a year.

However, last year's birds, Tater and Tot, are still kicking it at Virginia Tech, which Trump noted before joking that he thought about yanking their pardon.

"Tater and Tot, you can rest easy," Trump said.

As for this year's birds, Wittenburg said he could tell the birds apart, as Drumstick is taller.

On Twitter, the White House described Drumstick as having a "tall and proud" strut and being a lover of classic rock, especially the band Journey.

Wishbone shuffles when he walks, the White House said, and enjoys country music, including hits by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

While Wishbone wasn't picked by the public, he also got a taste of fame Tuesday, appearing briefly alongside Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in the White House briefing room.

During the Obama years, the White House also offered an online poll to have Americans decide which turkey the president would choose.