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Former President Joe Biden recently shared intriguing details about a letter he received from Donald Trump following the 2020 presidential election. In his memoir, Promise Me, America, Biden characterized the note as “very generous” and noted that it felt like it was penned by “an old friend.”
Trump’s Handwritten Letter
It is customary for outgoing presidents to leave a letter for their successors in the Oval Office. However, the fraught relationship between Trump and Biden led many to speculate that this tradition might not be honored. In a surprising revelation, Biden discloses that he did indeed receive a two-page handwritten letter from Trump on White House stationery, addressed “To 46,” recognizing Biden’s position as the 46th President of the United States.
Although Biden showed the letter to select staff members after taking office in 2021, he had kept its contents private until now, only describing it as a “very generous” note. With the release of Promise Me, America, Biden finally shares excerpts of what Trump had written as he departed the White House.
A Message of Goodwill
Trump’s letter extended best wishes, encouraging Biden with warm language. “Many presidents have come and gone who simply governed as Republicans or Democrats,” Trump wrote, as excerpted in a report by the New York Times. “Largely, they did not change history, they were just swept along in its relentless tide. This will not happen to you because I know how much you love the American people.”
The Impact of January 6
While acknowledging their long acquaintance, Biden notes that their friendship soured following the events of January 6, 2021. “What Trump did on January 6, 2021, should never be forgotten,” Biden asserts. “It should follow him to his grave.”
Insights from Biden’s Memoir
Published by Little, Brown and Company, Promise Me, America spans 480 pages and chronicles Biden’s four years in the White House, detailing his significant achievements, challenges, and regrets. The memoir candidly discusses his decision to run for a second term in 2024 and the agonizing calculations behind his ultimate choice to withdraw from the race.
Biden also provides a glimpse into his family life during his presidency, including interactions with his children Ashley and Hunter, as well as his wife Jill, as they prepare to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year. “From orchestrating a historic multibillion-dollar infrastructure renaissance and reviving American manufacturing to passing landmark legislation lowering healthcare costs and tackling the climate crisis, Biden details how he took risks, made gambles, and defied the pundits to build an economy, in his words, ‘from the middle out and the bottom up,’” the description of the book states.
Limited Promotion Due to Health Reasons
Biden has recently announced that his promotion of the memoir might be limited due to a prostate cancer diagnosis. He shared on social media, “Some days are better than others. It hasn’t stopped me. But sometimes it slows me down. What that means is, unfortunately, I won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped. However, I’m hopeful the words on the page speak for themselves.”
