Biden reveals unexpected letter from Trump left at White House

The New York Times, which obtained an excerpt from the book and a photocopy of the letter, reports the message was dated January 20, 2021, the day of Biden’s inauguration. It was slipped into an envelope labeled “To ‘46’,” referencing the 46th President of the United States.

The letter stands in stark contrast to Trump’s public statements about Biden and the 2020 election, offering no criticism or challenge to the election results. Instead, it offers a poetic reflection on his time in the White House, with Trump expressing confidence that Biden would “be true to himself and to the American people.”

He wrote, “Many presidents have come and gone by simply governing as Republicans or Democrats. For the most part, they have not changed history, they have been carried along by its relentless flow. That won’t happen to you, because I know how much you love the American people.”

The letter concludes with “God bless you and Jill,” signed “Donald.”

Biden, 83, writes that he felt there were “two Donald Trumps.” While acknowledging that his predecessor “deeply destabilized our democracy” and initially declined a traditional meeting between presidents, Biden notes the letter contained warm well wishes, resembling those of an old friend.

Biden had previously alluded to a “very generous” letter during his first week in office, but had refrained from discussing it further. This contrasts sharply with Trump’s campaign rhetoric in 2020, where he frequently attacked Biden and questioned his mental capabilities. Following his defeat, Trump challenged the election results and refused to attend the inauguration.

In another excerpt published by The Atlantic, Biden recounts a post-election 2024 meeting where Trump reportedly said, “You know, Joe, without politics, I think we’d be good friends.”

Biden, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, has announced that his treatment will limit his public appearances to promote the book.