Donald Trump has once again taken the oath as the President of the United States, assuming office as the 47th president. Among the inauguration traditions was a letter penned by former President Joe Biden, symbolizing the peaceful transfer of power in the nation's history. These letters often contain congratulatory messages and insights into the challenges and responsibilities of the presidency.
According to The Washington Post, Biden confirmed that he left a letter for Trump. He refrained from sharing its contents to maintain the confidentiality of this decades-old tradition.
The Tradition Dates Back 36 Years
By leaving a letter for Donald Trump, Biden upheld a 36-year-old tradition. Trump, too, left a letter for Biden four years earlier.
In 1989, as he left the White House after two terms, President Ronald Reagan initiated this tradition, leaving a note for his successor, George H.W. Bush. The note humorously featured an illustration of an elephant beaten by a turkey with the words, "Don't let the turkey get you down."
Since Reagan, nearly every president has kept this tradition alive.
It’s worth noting that the contents of Trump's letter to Biden remain unknown, but Biden reportedly described it to close allies as a 'very generous' letter, highlighting the civility despite the lack of amicable relations following the 2020 U.S. elections.
