Biden Memoir Reveals Warm Letter Trump Left in 2021

Joe Biden’s forthcoming memoir reproduces a two-page handwritten letter Donald Trump left for him on January 20, 2021, in which Trump expressed confidence that Biden could make a mark on history through his commitment to Americans.

The note, written on White House stationery and addressed “To 46,” was left as Trump departed the White House. Biden recounts its contents in Promise Me, America, scheduled for release November 17. The letter reflects on presidents’ place in history and says Biden would not simply be swept along by events because Trump knew how much he loved the American people.

Biden had described the note as generous after taking office but had not previously made its contents public. According to his memoir, he showed it to some staff members after his inauguration but did not let them read it. The letter’s disclosure provides a written account of a private gesture amid the political conflict between the two men.

Trump continued to dispute the 2020 election result and did not attend Biden’s inauguration. In a September 2023 interview, Trump acknowledged writing Biden a note, described it as nice and said he had spent considerable time considering its wording. He...