As the Iowa Caucuses are less than 60 days away and fast approaching, many 2024 presidential candidates used the Thanksgiving holiday as a time to energize voters.
With Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together and remember all the blessings they are surrounded with, as well being a time to enjoy a delicious feast, candidates on both sides of the aisle took the time to share a message with voters and reveal how they were spending the holiday.
Joe Biden
President Joe Biden and his family traveled to Nantucket, Massachusetts, a tradition the family has had since before the couple married in 1977.
For the Thanksgiving holiday, Biden and his family, including his son, Hunter Biden, and granddaughter, Naomi Biden, took part in a polar bear plunge in Nantucket.
The president also delivered pies to firefighters in Nantucket on Thanksgiving.
“This Thanksgiving, Jill and I spoke with members of our Armed Forces to offer our sincere gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day to protect our freedom,” Biden wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, expressing gratitude for the U.S. military service members.
The president also revealed he and First Lady Jill Biden called into NBC News’ Al Roker on Thursday morning to wish listeners a “Happy Thanksgiving” and to remind listeners to come together and give thanks.
This Thanksgiving, Jill and I spoke with members of our Armed Forces to offer our sincere gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day to protect our freedom.
— President Biden Archived (@POTUS46Archive) November 23, 2023
They're the best of us. pic.twitter.com/yJYwTf0u9P
Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump issued supporters of his a “Happy Thanksgiving,” while taking the time to slam his political opponents and people overseeing his trials, including President Biden and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“Happy Thanksgiving to ALL, including the Racist & Incompetent Attorney General of New York State, Letitia ‘Peekaboo’ James, who has let Murder & Violent Crime FLOURISH, & Businesses FLEE; the Radical Left Trump Hating Judge, a ‘Psycho,’ Arthur Engoron, who Criminally Defrauded the State of New York, & ME, by purposely Valuing my Assets at a ‘tiny’ Fraction of what they are really worth in order to convict me of Fraud before even a Trial, or seeing any PROOF,” Trump wrote in his post on Truth Social.
In another post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude for U.S. military service members, first responders, and his family.
“Today, as we gather with our loved ones, we give thanks to Almighty God for his many blessings, including our families, our friends, our neighbors, and this extraordinary country that we all call home,” Trump said in his video. “We also send our deep gratitude to all of the patriots serving our nation in uniform this Thanksgiving.”
Vivek Ramaswamy
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the candidates vying for the presidential nomination on the Republican side, took part in the annual Des Moines Turkey Trot in Iowa.
“Running for President in Iowa today,” Ramaswamy wrote in a post on X in which he shared a video of himself running. “Literally. Happy Thanksgiving!”
In another post, Ramaswamy joked about taking the road less traveled.
Ramaswamy also revealed that he and his son, Arjun, handed out pies to people in Iowa.
Running for President in Iowa today. Literally.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 23, 2023
Happy Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/a4GORSiPNH
Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shared a Thanksgiving message in a post on X, in which he promised to “turn this country around” if elected president.
“As we get ready to sit down for Thanksgiving dinner with our families at this time, we see the problems in our country, we see that we’ve hit the skids in a lot of different ways,” DeSantis said. “But, we should be thankful to be Americans. We should be thankful that we live in a country that was founded on enduring principles about human freedom. We are going to turn this country around and we’re going to get the job done.”
Happy Thanksgiving America! pic.twitter.com/5OhscE2Ycq
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 23, 2023
Nikki Haley
Former South Carolina Gov. and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) issued a Thanksgiving message that focused on family.
Haley’s husband, Maj. Michael Haley, was deployed in June with the 218th Manuever Enhancement Brigade in the Horn of Africa.
“We are missing part of our family today: Michael who is deployed overseas and Rena who is working at the hospital,” Haley wrote in a post on X. “While on this Thanksgiving Day our family is not together in person, we are together in spirit. Thankful for the blessings of faith, family, and country. Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!”
We are missing part of our family today: Michael who is deployed overseas and Rena who is working at the hospital. While on this Thanksgiving Day our family is not together in person, we are together in spirit. Thankful for the blessings of faith, family, and country. Wishing all… pic.twitter.com/TItrbZijYl
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 23, 2023
Chris Christie
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) shared that he had celebrated a “wonderful Thanksgiving” with his “extended family and friends.”
We have just completed a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with our extended family and friends. We hope you have had a great celebration as well. We are thankful for the blessings of family, friends and the chance to live in the freest, bravest country the world has ever known.
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) November 24, 2023
“We hope you have had a great celebration as well,” Christie wrote in a post on X. “We are thankful for the blessings of family, friends and the chance to live in the freest, bravest country the world has ever known.”
