President Donald Trumpwhile the now 47th president of the United States was signing a series of executive orders from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House, he discovered a letter from his predecessor in one of the desk drawers with the help of a Fox News reporter.
Trump was in the process of signing one of many executive orders Monday after returning to the White House when Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked if President Biden left him a letter.
“Maybe it is. Don’t they leave it in the table? I don’t know,” Trump told Doocy before revealing a white envelope with the number “47” written on it. “Thank you, Peter. It could be years before we find this thing.”
Trump then teased everyone in the room by suggesting they all read the letter together, before rescinding the rule.
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US President Donald Trump holds a letter from outgoing President Joe Biden as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on January 20, 2025. (Jim WATSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Well, maybe I’ll read it first and then make that decision,” the president said once more thanks to the White House correspondent.
“I’m glad to help carry the torch,” Doocy said.
Trump was then asked if he left one for Biden, and he said he left one in the table, just like Biden.
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President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th President of the United States. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Leaving a letter for Trump, Biden kept it with the now 36-year tradition of the outgoing commander-in-chief writing a message to the new president.
After leaving the White House in 1989 after two terms in office, President Ronald Reagan started a tradition – he left a message for his successor, George HW Bush, who was also his vice president.
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Four years later, despite the defeat of the then Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, outgoing President Bush left a message for Clinton in the Oval Office. The tradition has been maintained until today.
