Stephen Colbert mocks Fox News’ Thanksgiving tradition: ‘Blaming Biden’
The AFBF found that the total cost of an average Thanksgiving dinner had actually fallen for 2023
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Late Show host Stephen Colbert mocked Fox News for what he described as the channel’s Thanksgiving tradition of “blaming Joe Biden“.
During his show on Wednesday night, Mr Colbert joked that the right-wing network was celebrating the festive season with its favourite pasttime of blaming the president for the apparent rise in cost of a turkey.
Former congressman Jason Chaffetz had appeared on Fox News this week to claim that rising inflation in the US under Mr Biden had driven up the price of turkeys and postage stamps.
Mr Chaffetz regaled how he went to buy a turkey this week, only to discover that it cost $90. He added that the price of stamps had also gone up by 32 per cent in the last four years.
“It’s all a choice by Joe Biden,” he said. “That’s what Bidenomics is.”
Mr Chaffetz was widely mocked for his remarks, with fellow commentator Brian Brenberg adding: “I hope Jason’s turkey was made of steak, because that’s a lot of money for a turkey.”
On Wednesday’s show, Mr Colbert also chimed in on the discussion.
“That’s right. Thanks to Joe Biden’s greed, it’s even more expensive than ever to buy a raw turkey, cover it in stamps and send it to a relative,” Mr Colbert joked. “Thanks a lot, Joe.”
He went on to cast doubts on the former congressman’s claims, joking that it might not have been a turkey that Mr Colbert bought for this year’s Thanksgiving feast.
“I have no reason to doubt Jason Chaffetz other than the fact that I’ve met him,” Mr Colbert joked.
“But, according to the latest data from the Department of Agriculture, the average cost of a frozen turkey is $1.25 a pound. OK, so if Jason Chaffetz spent – if he spent $90 at $1.25 a pound, that means he must have gotten … a 72-pound turkey.
“Jason, that wasn’t a turkey you put in the oven. For the love of God, for the love of God, where’s your niece?”
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the average price for a 16-pound turkey is $27.35 – at $1.71 per pound. That’s actually down by 5.6 per cent from last year.
The AFBF also found that the total cost of an average Thanksgiving dinner in 2023 was less than the record highs seen in 2022 – at $65.05 – coming in at an average of $61.17.
Following Mr Chaffet’z claim, social media users were also quick to mock the former congressman.
“What kind of turkey were you buying? The country?” wrote one user, with another replying with a picture of a world map and writing “call me crazy, but that’s a bargain”.
Mr Chaffetz later took to X himself, posting a picture of a nearly 23-pound “premium young turkey” bought from Meiers for $114.02. “Happy Thanksgiving,” he wrote.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments