Trump left Biden a poetic letter praising him after 2020 loss

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 21:13 · Archive

Donald Trump left Joe Biden a handwritten letter praising him as someone who would 'be true to yourself and the American people' when departing the White House in January 2021.

Donald Trump wrote a two-page letter to Joe Biden on his last day as president, 20 January 2021, and left it in the Oval Office. The letter, handwritten in black Sharpie on White House stationery and addressed to '46', broke sharply with Trump's usual public rhetoric towards Biden.

In the note, Trump praised the presidency as 'a blessing beyond imagination', describing how 'history resounds from every wall, every statue, every beautiful painting, and every corner of this magical place'. He wrote that 'each staircase, hallway and door leads to yet another door and memory, another inflection point in the glorious story of America'. Trump also told Biden that he would 'be true to yourself and the American people' and stated that Biden's love for Americans meant 'this will not happen to you' – referring to presidents who were merely swept along by history rather than changing it.

Biden showed the letter to staff after his inauguration but did not let anyone read it, describing it as 'very generous'. He was said to have been surprised by how gracious the letter was, given the public antagonism between the two men. Trump had called Biden 'sleepy', 'a loser' and 'very stupid' during the election campaign, and he broke with presidential tradition by skipping Biden's inauguration and instead flying to Palm Beach, Florida. Biden is reprinting the full letter in his upcoming memoir, Promise Me, America, scheduled for release on 17 November.

How it is being reported

• Trump praised Biden in ‘very generous’ private letter upon exiting White House, ex-prez reveals in new memoirThat sentiment, along with others, was part of the letter Trump left for Biden upon leaving office in January 2021.New York Post · 10 Nov, 20:56
• Trump left Biden an oddly polite and poetic letter after losing to him in 2020'Each staircase, hallway and door leads to yet another door and memory.'Metro · 10 Nov, 20:24

In this story: Donald Trump · Joe Biden · White House · Oval Office · Palm Beach · United States

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