The full contents of the letter Joe Biden left for Donald Trump in the Oval Office have now been made public. And it’s a touching message filled with hope and well-wishes.
The letter reads:
“Dear President Trump, as I leave this sacred office, 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. My prayer is that the coming years bring prosperity, peace, and grace to our nation. May God bless you and guide you, as He has blessed and guided our beloved country since our founding.”
The note ends simply with “Joe Biden 1-20-25.”
Trump’s reaction to the letter
Trump found this letter on Monday, tucked inside a drawer of the Oval Office desk. On Tuesday, he spoke to the media, calling the note “nice.”
“It said ‘To number 47,’ and it was a very nice one,” Trump said during a press conference in the White House’s Roosevelt Room. “It was kind of an inspirational letter. You know, ‘Enjoy it. Do a good job.’”
He added, “I think I should let people see it, because it was a positive for him.”
Trump even showed off the envelope, revealing the number “47” written on the outside, signaling his new position as the 47th president.
A presidential tradition
This tradition of outgoing presidents leaving a letter for their successors began in 1989 under President Ronald Reagan.
When Biden took office in 2021, he never revealed the contents of the letter Trump left for him, only calling it “generous.”
Biden and Trump’s rivalry
In the years that followed, both Biden and Trump threw sharp words at each other. As Biden geared up for the 2024 race, he and his running mate, Kamala Harris, labeled Trump a “dangerous fascist.”
Trump hit back, calling Biden “incompetent” and the “most corrupt president in history.”
Trump’s 2024 victory and meeting with Biden
Fast forward to 2024. Trump, now 78, won the election and met with Biden at the White House. The two leaders spent around two hours together, talking about transition details and other important issues, like Russia’s war in Ukraine.
At the meeting, Biden greeted Trump with a friendly “welcome back” as they discussed the handover of power. Trump later told The Post that the meeting was a chance for them to “get to know each other again” and that it was a pleasant conversation.
On Inauguration Day, the two shared a traditional tea at the White House before heading to the Capitol for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
It’s clear that while these two men have had their differences, the tradition of passing the torch remains an important part of American democracy.
