Trump discovers letter from Biden in Oval Office
FILE - President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Trump, upon returning to the Oval Office, confirmed that President Biden left him a letter in the Resolute Desk—a continuation of the long-standing tradition of outgoing presidents writing notes for their successors.
The discovery came after a journalist asked Trump if he had received a letter. Trump then opened the desk drawers, found the envelope marked with a handwritten "47" underlined in pencil, and held it up for cameras, joking, "Maybe we should all read it together."
He added that he would read it privately before deciding whether to share its contents publicly.
How the tradition of presidential letters began
The backstory:
The tradition of presidential letters began in 1989 when Ronald Reagan left a handwritten note for his successor, George H.W. Bush. Written on cartoon stationery, Reagan’s message humorously advised Bush to "not let the turkeys get you down."
Since then, these letters have become moments of goodwill amid transitions of power, often offering encouragement, advice, or unity.
George H.W. Bush’s note to Bill Clinton in 1993 famously read, "Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you."