Did Donald Trump leave a letter for Joe Biden?

When it comes to presidential traditions, Donald Trump stands apart in many ways. Even during his inauguration as the 45th president, he skipped the customary gesture of placing his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office. Yet, there was one long-standing tradition that he surprisingly upheld: the practice of outgoing presidents leaving letters for their successors.

The custom of presidents writing private notes for their successors began in 1989 when Ronald Reagan left a message for George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office. Since then, every departing president has honored this tradition, and despite his unconventional approach to the presidency, Trump was no exception.

When Joe Biden stepped into the presidency in 2021, he found a letter left for him by Donald Trump in the Resolute Desk of the Oval Office. According to Chris Whipple’s book The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden’s White House, Biden described the letter as “very gracious and generous,” though he declined to share its details publicly. This sentiment was echoed in Peril by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, which revealed that Biden was so taken aback by the letter’s tone that he pocketed it immediately and didn’t even show it to his advisers.

The letter’s positive tone came as a surprise given the circumstances surrounding Trump’s departure. At the time, Trump had vehemently denied the results of the 2020 election and even incited the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Nonetheless, his unexpected adherence to this tradition left many observers intrigued.

Fast forward to Trump’s second term, and it was revealed that Biden also carried on the tradition when leaving the White House. According to USA Today, Trump discovered Biden’s letter in the Resolute Desk shortly after signing executive orders. The envelope bore the number “47,” referencing Trump as the 47th president, underlined twice for emphasis.

While Trump joked with reporters about reading the letter aloud, he ultimately kept its contents private, though later reports from The Hill revealed the note’s message. Biden wrote:

“I wish you and your family all the best in the next four years. The American people — and people around the world — look to this house for steadiness in the inevitable storms of history, and my prayer is that in the coming years will be a time of prosperity, peace, and grace for our nation.”

Trump later described Biden’s note as “very nice” and even “inspirational.”The tradition of letter-writing between presidents represents a symbolic passing of the torch, a moment of unity amidst political division. Despite the turmoil surrounding Trump’s presidency and his contentious exit from office, these letters offer a glimpse of civility and continuity between administrations—a rare but welcome reminder of the enduring rituals of the presidency.

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