On November 26, 2025, J.D. Vance, the 49th Vice President of the United States, stood before a crowd of U.S. Army troops at Fort Campbell — the sprawling military base straddling Kentucky and Tennessee — and did something unexpected: he roasted the turkey. Not literally. But close enough. "Honestly," he asked, "is there anyone here who really likes turkey?" A ripple of laughter swept through the crowd. Then, deadpan: "Those of you who raised your hands are truly liars." It was a moment of levity, yes — but beneath the joke lay something deeper. A reminder, on the eve of Thanksgiving, that some traditions aren’t about taste. They’re about identity.
Why Turkey? And Why Now?
Vance’s remarks, captured in an 1-minute, 52-second video by NBC10 Boston, weren’t just a gag. They were a deliberate cultural anchor. He contrasted Thanksgiving with Christmas — a global observance celebrated by 1.8 billion Christians — and declared the former "probably my favorite American holiday" and "the most uniquely American holiday." The distinction wasn’t theological. It was historical. And emotional. "Christmas," he said, "is wonderful. I’ve got three little kids. But Thanksgiving? That’s ours." His words echoed the founding myth of the holiday: the 1621 harvest feast between English Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth Colony. Wild turkey, abundant in autumn, replaced the goose of European traditions. Its size made it practical for large family gatherings. Its flavor, though often debated, became symbolic. Vance didn’t shy from the absurdity. "Who would suddenly want to roast an 18-pound turkey on a summer afternoon?" he asked. "Chicken is far better." But then he pivoted — hard. "Thanksgiving, on the most American holiday, we are going to cook a turkey by God because that’s what Americans do. We cook this gigantic American bird and we do all kinds of crazy things to make it taste good."The Ritual Beyond the Roast
The turkey, as Vance framed it, isn’t the point. The point is the gathering. The remembering. The quiet act of sitting around a table, full but reflective, thinking about those who came before — the settlers, the soldiers, the ancestors who survived winters no one should have. "The essence of Thanksgiving is gratitude," he said. "That’s why this festival is so American." He didn’t just speak to troops. He spoke to a nation that’s fractured, distracted, and often cynical. In a time of political polarization and digital noise, the ritual of carving a bird you don’t even like — but still cook — is a quiet act of unity. It’s not about the stuffing. It’s about showing up. Even the name "turkey" carries a layer of accidental history. Early European settlers confused the North American bird with the guinea fowl imported from Africa via Turkish traders. They called it "turkey fowl." The name stuck. Like the holiday itself, it’s a product of misunderstanding, adaptation, and persistence.
What the Troops Heard
Fort Campbell, home to the 101st Airborne Division, is more than a base. It’s a living archive of American sacrifice. Soldiers there deploy, return, redeploy. They miss holidays. They eat MREs on Thanksgiving. Vance’s speech wasn’t just a morale boost — it was a reconnection. He reminded them that their service is part of the same story as the Pilgrims: enduring hardship, honoring community, and choosing gratitude even when it’s hard. One sergeant later told reporters, "I’ve eaten turkey in a tent in Iraq, in a mess hall in Germany, and now here. He’s right — we don’t do it for the taste. We do it because it’s ours."
A Tradition That Outlives the Bird
The Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s largest newspaper, picked up Vance’s remarks — not because Americans love turkey, but because the world watches how America defines itself. In a time when global powers compete for influence, America still clings to rituals that have no economic value, no military utility — yet carry immense cultural weight. Vance confirmed he’d be home in Washington, D.C., on November 27, 2025, sharing a turkey dinner with his three children. "We’ll argue over who gets the drumstick," he said. "We’ll pretend the stuffing is perfect. And we’ll say what we’re thankful for. Even if it’s just that we’re all still here." The tradition survives not because it’s perfect. But because it’s human.Frequently Asked Questions
Why does J.D. Vance call Thanksgiving "uniquely American" when other countries have harvest festivals?
Vance’s claim hinges on the holiday’s specific historical roots in the 1621 Pilgrim-Wampanoag gathering — a uniquely North American event tied to colonial survival and early U.S. identity. While harvest festivals exist globally, the U.S. version became a federal holiday in 1863, institutionalized around themes of national gratitude and remembrance of foundational hardship, making it culturally distinct.
Is it true that turkey was chosen because it was easier to roast than goose?
Yes. Wild turkeys, native to North America, were larger and more abundant than geese in the 17th century, making them practical for feeding extended families. Geese were traditional in Europe, but turkeys required less preparation and yielded more meat — a logistical advantage that helped cement their place in the Thanksgiving menu by the 1800s.
How did the word "turkey" come to refer to the bird?
Early English settlers confused the North American wild turkey with the guinea fowl, which was imported to Europe via Turkish merchants. They called the bird "turkey fowl," and the name stuck. The linguistic mix-up became permanent — even though the two birds are unrelated. It’s a linguistic relic of global trade and mistaken identity.
Why did Vance make these jokes in front of military personnel?
Military audiences often respond to humor that acknowledges shared hardship. By poking fun at turkey — a dish many troops have eaten in austere conditions — Vance built rapport while reinforcing a deeper message: that traditions endure not because they’re perfect, but because they bind us. It was a way to say, "You’re part of this story, even when you’re far from home."
What’s the significance of the 1.8 billion Christians statistic Vance used?
Vance used the number to highlight Thanksgiving’s domestic, not global, identity. While Christmas is a universal Christian observance, Thanksgiving is rooted in U.S. history — the Pilgrims, the harvest, the early republic. The comparison wasn’t theological; it was cultural, emphasizing that some American rituals aren’t replicated elsewhere, making them more meaningful as national symbols.
Did Vance’s comments spark controversy?
Not significantly. Most reactions praised his authenticity. Critics who questioned the turkey jokes were outnumbered by those who appreciated the honesty. Even food writers admitted: "He’s not wrong. Turkey is dry. But we eat it anyway — because it’s Thanksgiving." The focus quickly returned to gratitude, not poultry.