New president says Biden left Trump ‘encouraging’ message in ‘very nice’ letter
President Donald Trump on Tuesday called the letter former President Joe Biden left for him in the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk “inspiring” and teased reporters that he might release the “very nice” note at some point .
Trump discovered the letter in Resolute’s desk with the help of Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Ducey on Monday during a news conference announcing a $500 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
“It’s a very good letter,” Trump told reporters. “It’s a little bit of an inspirational letter. Enjoy it, do a good job. Important, very important. How important this job is.”
The president added that he appreciated the letter so much that it might be made public.
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President Donald Trump holds up a letter left for him by former President Joe Biden on the Resolute Desk as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“For him to write this article was a positive,” Trump continued. “I appreciate the letter.”
As Ducey signed a series of executive orders in front of a crowd of reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Ducey asked President Biden if he had left him a letter, which Trump later discovered was addressed to “47.” letter.
Trump discovered the letter on Resolute’s desk after Fox News’ senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked Biden if he had left him a note. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“He might have. Didn’t they leave it on the table? I don’t know,” Trump told Ducey before discovering the white envelope. “Thank you, Peter. It might be years before we find this thing.”
Trump then teased reporters that they should read the book together before taking back power. He said he would open the letter later Monday night.
Due to Trump’s influence, the editor-in-chief of Politics magazine called Trump “the greatest American figure of his time.”
The presidential tradition of leaving a letter to his successor began in 1989, when President Ronald Reagan left the White House after two terms and was succeeded by former President George H.W. Bush.
A handwritten letter from the former president to his successor is photographed in Washington on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Every president since Ronald Reagan has left a note for his successor. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
Bush continued the tradition even though he lost the White House to former President Bill Clinton after just one term in office. The tradition continues today under presidents including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trump and Biden.
However, Biden is the first president to find himself in the unique position of writing a letter to both his successor and his predecessor who left him a note four years ago. Trump became the first president since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s to not serve a second term.
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Biden said Trump left him a “very generous letter” but has so far declined to share what Trump wrote, considering it personal.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
