Former President Donald Trump has unveiled the letter his predecessor, Joe Biden, left for him in the Oval Office before leaving the White House. Trump shared the note’s contents exclusively with Fox News on Wednesday.
The letter, placed inside the Resolute Desk, was discovered as Trump signed a series of executive orders. With assistance from Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy, Trump came across the envelope, which was addressed to “47.”
President Donald Trump on his desk at the Oval Office,Photo Credit: Sky News Australia/Youtube
The letter began with a formal salutation: “Dear President Trump.”
“As I depart this sacred office, I extend my best wishes to you and your family for the next four years,” Biden wrote. “People across America and the world look to this house for stability amid history’s storms. My hope and prayer are that the years ahead bring prosperity, peace, and grace to our nation.”
Biden concluded, “May God bless you and guide you, as He has our nation since its founding,” signing simply as “Joe Biden.” The note was dated January 20, 2025.
President Donald Trump holding up the letter that former President Joe Biden left for him, Photo Credit: Sky News Australia/Youtube
On Monday, Trump discovered the letter after Doocy inquired whether Biden had upheld the tradition of leaving a note for his successor.
“He may have. Don’t they leave it in the desk? I don’t know,” Trump said while searching the Resolute Desk. Finding the envelope, he smiled and remarked, “Thank you, Peter. We might not have found this for years.”
The following day, Trump gave reporters a little more insight into the letter’s tone.
President Donald Trump holding up the letter that former President Joe Biden left for him, Photo Credit: Sky News Australia/Youtube
“It was a very nice letter,” Trump said. “A bit inspiring, encouraging—basically saying, ‘Enjoy it, do a good job.’”
Trump acknowledged the letter’s significance and seemed to appreciate the gesture. “It was encouraging for him to write it. I appreciated the letter,” he added.
The tradition of outgoing presidents leaving notes for their successors began in 1989 when Ronald Reagan left a message for George H.W. Bush. Since then, every president—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump, and Biden—has carried on the custom, offering words of wisdom and encouragement to the next leader.
President Donald Trump holding up the letter that former President Joe Biden left for him, Photo Credit: Sky News Australia/Youtube
Biden made history as the first president to write a letter to the same person who had previously written one to him. Meanwhile, Trump became the first leader since Grover Cleveland to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
While Trump has now shared Biden’s note publicly, Biden has remained discreet about the letter Trump left for him in 2021. He previously described it as “very generous” but chose to keep its contents private.
Sources: Fox News
