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Video shows Trump mocking a turkey for ‘refusing to concede’ after losing Thanksgiving pardon vote in 2018

'This was a fair election... unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount. We're still fighting with Carrots,' says Trump in the clip

In the light of Donald Trump refusing to concede the presidential election following his defeat to President-elect Joe Biden, a 2018 clip of the outgoing president mockingly accusing Carrots, the turkey, of refusing to accept defeat in the White House turkey pardon contest went viral on Monday, November 23. 

The clip was dug up by CNN's K-File reporter Andrew Kaczynski and posted on Twitter with the caption, "FLASHBACK: In 2018, President Trump attacked Carrots the turkey for refusing to concede he had lost the vote on the White House turkey pardon contest. 'This was a fair election... unfortunately, Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount. We're still fighting with Carrots. And I will tell you, we've come to a conclusion: Carrots, I'm sorry to tell you, the results did not change. Too bad for Carrots.'"

The president issued the pardons to Peas, a 40-pound bird from South Dakota, in the 2018 event. His remarks at the event came following the 2018 mid-term elections where recounts in gubernatorial and Senate races in Florida lasted for more than a week. 

The irony of the present situation juxtaposed with Trump's albeit jocking speech at the turkey pardoning event before Thanksgiving two years ago was not lost on the social media users who came across the clip. As a result, they were quick to draw parallels between the POTUS' current stance on the outcome of the 2020 election and his mockery of Carrots, the turkey.

"How appropriate that orange things, like trump, are refusing to concede like Carrots the turkey in 2018," one of the users said, while another noted, "Is Trump gonna pardon a turkey this year? Because I’d rather just have him concede a presidency." Someone else wrote, "Hope this Orange Turkey takes their advice. (I know...I see/hear in my head what I am saying/texting...)" 

One more added, "Sounds to me like trump is making fun of himself. A winner decided by an open and fair election, a 'turkey' who won't concede despite a recount that didn't change the outcome. So we know he knows and is just burning down Democracy. That's great." The next commented, "Trump emulates Carrots the Turkey. Like him, he 'refused to concede and demanded a recount.'" Someone else remarked, "Well this didn’t age well... it’s time to go, Carrots (@realDonaldTrump). Get it?? Because Trump is orange and also won’t concede. Like the turkey."

Another added, "I finally understand Trump’s legal strategy re: the election. Trump = Carrots They’re both orange. There’s symmetry here." One more noted, "I think this is hysterical. 'Carrots' is a lovely name for an orange creature!" And a person quipped, "Trump's new name should be Carrots. He also refuses to concede, demanded a recount, is orange like the vegetable and is definitely a turkey." And one more said, "Gee, isn't it funny that I'm openly making a mockery of democracy and acting completely delusional because I'm a fascist who doesn't want to give up power?"

We previously reported that the president is reportedly worried that he is being embarrassed by his campaign's legal team, which has been so far unsuccessful in a string of cases challenging the results of the November 3 election. With a number of their cases filed by the legal team already having been thrown out by state courts, the POTUS confidence in his lawyers is depleting. A source told NBC News that Trump is under the impression that his campaign’s legal team is made up of “fools” whose failures and outlandish press appearances are “making him look bad."