President Donald Trump shared the contents of a letter left for him by outgoing President Joe Biden, continuing the long-standing tradition of presidential letters. The letter, dated January 20, 2025, and addressed to “47,” was found inside the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office during Trump’s first day back as president.
The letter reads:
“As I take leave of 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, and my prayer is that in the coming years will be a time of prosperity, peace, and grace for our nation. May God bless you and guide you as He has blessed and guided our beloved country since our founding.”
Signed by “Joe Biden,” the letter reflects a tone of goodwill and respect.
The letter was discovered during a moment with reporters, including Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy. Trump, unsure at first if a letter had been left, found the envelope marked “47” inside the desk. Responding to questions about the note, Trump described it as “a very nice letter” and “inspirational,” noting its emphasis on the importance of the presidency.
The tradition of outgoing presidents leaving letters to their successors began in 1989 when President Ronald Reagan left a note for George H. W. Bush. Each subsequent president has continued the practice, including Trump, who left a letter for Biden in 2021, though its contents remain private.
Biden, now the first president to have written letters to both a predecessor and a successor who served nonconsecutive terms, faced a rare historical moment. Trump’s return to the presidency marks the first nonconsecutive presidential term since Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
