Biden and Trump have been at each other’s throats. But are they making nice now?
Because Joe Biden left a surprise present on Trump’s desk that is boggling minds.
Trump Calls Biden’s Oval Office Letter ‘Inspirational,’ Teases Potential Release
President Donald Trump described the letter left for him by former President Joe Biden inside the Resolute Desk as “inspirational” and hinted he might share the “very nice” note with the public someday.
During a press conference on Tuesday announcing a $500 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, Trump was asked about the letter, which he discovered the previous day.
Fox News’ Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy had prompted Trump to look for the letter while signing executive orders in the Oval Office.
“It was a very nice letter,” Trump told reporters. “It was a little bit of an inspirational-type letter. Enjoy it, do a good job. Important, very important. How important the job is.”
Trump went on to say he appreciated the gesture and was considering making the letter public.
“It was a positive, for him, in writing it,” Trump said. “I appreciated the letter.”
The discovery unfolded on Monday when Doocy asked Trump if Biden had followed 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 before finding a white envelope tucked inside the Resolute Desk. “Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before we found this thing.”
Trump then teased reporters, suggesting they read it together, but decided to save it for later, saying he’d open it Monday night.
The tradition of outgoing presidents leaving a letter for their successors dates back to 1989 when President Ronald Reagan left a note for George H. W. Bush.
Despite political rivalries, this custom has continued through Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.
Notably, Biden found himself in an unprecedented position when writing this letter.
As Trump is the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve nonconsecutive terms, Biden was addressing someone who had both preceded and succeeded him in office.
Biden previously referred to the letter Trump left him in 2021 as “very generous” but declined to share its content, calling it private.
Trump now holds the same decision in his hands, fueling speculation about whether he’ll break tradition and release the letter to the public.
For now, the mystery surrounding Biden’s words to “47” continues, leaving many eager to know what the former president had to say to the man who preceded him — and then returned to replace him.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
