Letter from Former President Biden Found by Trump in Resolute Desk

On his first day back in the Oval Office as the 47th president, Donald Trump stumbled upon a piece of presidential tradition tucked away in the Resolute Desk a letter from his predecessor, Joe Biden. The discovery occurred during a busy evening of signing executive orders aimed at reversing Biden’s policies.

The moment unfolded in a candid exchange between Trump and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy. While Trump signed one of his many executive orders on Monday, Doocy asked if Biden had left behind the customary letter.

“He may have. Don’t they leave it in the desk? I don’t know,” Trump said, before opening one of the desk drawers. Moments later, he pulled out a white envelope marked with the number “47,” referring to Trump’s current presidency.

“Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before we found this thing,” Trump quipped, eliciting laughter from those in the room.

Though he teased the possibility of reading the letter aloud, Trump opted to keep the contents private, for now. “Well, maybe I’ll read it first and then make that determination,” he remarked with a grin.

The letter marks the continuation of a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan in 1989, who left a note for his successor and former vice president, George H. W. Bush. Despite the political tensions that can surround transitions of power, each outgoing president since Reagan has left behind a handwritten note for the incoming commander-in-chief.

In 1993, President George H. W. Bush famously left a gracious letter for Bill Clinton, even after losing to him in a hard-fought campaign. The bipartisan tradition has been upheld by every administration since, serving as a rare symbol of continuity and respect in the often-divisive world of politics.

When asked whether he had reciprocated the gesture during his departure four years ago, Trump confirmed that he, too, left a letter for Biden.

This discovery adds a touch of historical weight to Trump’s already momentous first day back in office, reminding Americans of the significance of the presidency and the enduring legacy of its traditions.

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