President Donald Trump disclosed the contents of the farewell letter left for him by outgoing President Joe Biden during his return to the Oval Office earlier this week. The letter, dated January 20, 2025, was addressed to “47,” referring to Trump’s position as the 47th president, and was signed by Biden.
The letter read:
As I leave 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 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.
Trump found the letter while signing executive orders in front of reporters. Not knowing whether Biden had left a note, Trump found it in the Resolute Desk after Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked about it. “It could have been years before we found this thing,” Trump joked, holding the envelope with “47” handwritten on it.
During the press conference the very next day, Trump described the note as “a very nice letter,” claiming that it was “very inspirational and positive.” He acknowledged that it was a big deal, in effect stating that the presidency is a very important position.
Outgoing presidents traditionally write letters to their successors, and the tradition dates back to 1989 with Ronald Reagan and continued with the subsequent administrations. Biden’s letter was unique in terms of historical value because he was writing to a predecessor-turned-successor: Trump, who became the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve nonconsecutive terms.
Although Trump was generous in praising Biden’s gesture, Biden had declined to discuss the contents of the letter that Trump left for him in 2021, saying that was a private matter.
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