US President Donald Trump continued the long-standing White House tradition of pardoning two turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving, granting clemency to birds named Waddle and Gobble during a ceremony marked by humour and political barbs.

"Gobble, I just want to tell you, this is very important: you are hereby unconditionally pardoned," Trump told one of the birds, which responded with loud gobbling sounds. The annual turkey pardon spares selected birds from becoming part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal, which will be celebrated across the United States on Thursday and typically features roast turkey.