Trump is clearly an outstanding man.
A private letter President Donald Trump left for Joe Biden inside the White House has finally been revealed, and its contents are raising eyebrows more than five years after it was written.
Despite years of bitter political disagreements, Trump reportedly offered Biden unexpected praise and encouragement in the handwritten message he left behind when departing the Oval Office in January 2021.
The surprising revelation comes from Biden’s upcoming memoir, Promise Me, America, which is scheduled for release on November 17, 2026.
While Americans have become accustomed to seeing the two political rivals exchange sharp criticism, the newly disclosed letter reveals a considerably different tone behind closed doors.
And what Trump wrote to Biden may surprise those who remember the heated circumstances surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
Trump’s Private Message Finally Revealed
According to reporting from The Associated Press, Trump’s handwritten letter was addressed to “46,” a reference to Biden becoming the nation’s 46th president.
The two-page message was written on official White House stationery using Trump’s familiar black marker.
Rather than criticizing Biden or revisiting their political disagreements, Trump reportedly focused on the responsibilities of the presidency and the opportunity to make a lasting difference for the American people.
Trump expressed confidence that Biden would remain committed to his personal beliefs and the citizens he was preparing to serve.
He also reflected on the fact that many presidents have occupied the White House without fundamentally changing the course of American history.
Trump suggested Biden had an opportunity to distinguish himself because of his dedication to the country and its people.
The letter’s positive message stands in sharp contrast to the public exchanges that have characterized the relationship between the two men.
Biden Admitted Trump Was Surprisingly Generous
The existence of Trump’s letter was not entirely unknown.
Shortly after taking office on January 20, 2021, Biden confirmed that Trump had left him a personal message.
At the time, Biden described the correspondence as “very generous.”
However, he declined to reveal exactly what Trump had written, explaining that he considered the communication private.
Reports indicate that Biden showed the note to some members of his staff but did not allow them to read its contents.
That decision kept Trump’s personal words out of public view for years.
The friendly tone reportedly caught Biden by surprise, particularly considering the political tensions surrounding his arrival at the White House.
Trump had challenged the outcome of the 2020 election and declined to attend Biden’s inauguration.
Nevertheless, he participated in the presidential tradition of leaving his successor a private letter.
The gesture provided a rare moment of courtesy during an otherwise contentious transfer of power.
Trump Previously Hinted At The Letter’s Contents
Trump himself had discussed the correspondence before its full contents became public.
During a September 2023 interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump acknowledged writing the letter and described it as a thoughtful message.
He also indicated that he had spent considerable time considering what to say.
Trump maintained that the decision to reveal the contents belonged to Biden.
His comments suggested that the letter was intended as a personal message rather than a public political statement.
Now, more than five years after Biden first received it, Americans are finally learning what Trump wanted his successor to hear.
The disclosure provides an unusual glimpse into the private relationship between two presidents whose public disagreements have dominated American politics.
Biden’s New Book Takes Aim At Trump
Although Trump’s letter contained unexpected encouragement, Biden’s upcoming memoir reportedly offers a much more critical assessment of his political rival.
In excerpts from Promise Me, America, Biden criticizes Trump’s leadership and accuses him of undermining important American institutions.
The former president also takes issue with Trump’s efforts to reverse policies implemented during the Biden administration.
Biden reserves some of his strongest criticism for Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump has repeatedly rejected Biden’s broader portrayal of his political record.
The contrast between Trump’s private letter and Biden’s public criticism illustrates the complicated relationship that has developed between the two leaders.
While their disagreements over government policy, political leadership, and the future of the country remain substantial, the newly revealed correspondence shows that respectful communication was possible even during a period of intense political division.
White House Fires Back At Biden
The Trump administration did not remain silent following the latest revelations.
White House communications director Steven Cheung responded sharply to Biden’s upcoming memoir, criticizing the former president’s record in office.
Cheung argued that Biden should have followed Trump’s advice and accused the previous administration of misusing government institutions against political opponents.
Those allegations reflect the Trump administration’s position and remain politically disputed.
The response demonstrates that the cordial words Trump wrote in January 2021 have not eliminated the ongoing disagreements between the two presidents.
Their competing views on the economy, federal spending, immigration, and government leadership continue to shape political debate across the country.
Even so, the private letter offers an interesting contrast to the public criticism that continues today.
A Longstanding White House Tradition
The newly disclosed letter also highlights a tradition that has connected American presidents across party lines for decades.
Outgoing presidents commonly leave personal notes for their successors, offering encouragement, advice, and reflections on the responsibilities of leading the nation.
The modern practice dates back to 1989, when President Ronald Reagan left a handwritten message for incoming President George H.W. Bush.
Since then, presidents from both political parties have continued the custom.
These letters often remain private unless the recipients decide to release them.
The tradition continued in January 2025, when Biden left Trump a personal letter as Trump returned to the White House for his second term.
Trump later described Biden’s message as positive and inspirational.
Although the two men have rarely agreed on major political issues, both participated in a tradition emphasizing the responsibilities and continuity of the presidency.
For Americans who have watched decades of presidential transitions, the exchange serves as a reminder that political competition and personal courtesy do not always have to be mutually exclusive.
What Trump’s Letter Reveals About Their Relationship
The most striking aspect of Trump’s newly disclosed message may be its timing.
When Trump wrote the letter, the country was emerging from a deeply contentious presidential election.
Republicans and Democrats remained divided over the election results, and emotions were running high across Washington.
Yet Trump’s private correspondence did not focus on those disputes.
Instead, he reportedly expressed confidence in Biden’s commitment to Americans and emphasized the opportunity that comes with holding the nation’s highest office.
That distinction is significant because political rivals are often judged almost exclusively by their public statements.
Private conversations and correspondence can reveal a more complicated picture.
The letter does not mean Trump and Biden agreed on policy or that their political differences disappeared.
However, it does show that Trump was willing to offer his successor a respectful message at a moment when their public relationship was particularly strained.
A Surprising Chapter In Presidential History
More than five years after Trump left the letter behind, the contents are adding another chapter to the political history shared by the two presidents.
The revelation comes as Americans continue debating the legacies of both administrations and the country’s future direction.
For many readers, the most unexpected detail is not that Trump wrote a letter, but that his words reportedly contained such personal encouragement.
Biden acknowledged the generosity of the message in 2021, but its contents remained largely unknown until now.
The disclosure offers a rare look at an exchange that took place away from campaign rallies, television cameras, and the daily political battles in Washington.
And while Trump and Biden continue to disagree over some of the nation’s most important issues, their private correspondence demonstrates that the traditions of the presidency can endure even amid serious political conflict.
The bottom line: Trump’s newly revealed letter to Biden was far more complimentary than many Americans might have expected, providing a surprising reminder that the personal interactions between political rivals can differ considerably from what the public sees.
