Former President Joe Biden's memoir reveals the full text of a handwritten letter left by President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on January 20, 2021. The note, addressed to "'46'" and written in black Sharpie on White House stationery, offered warm wishes and encouragement despite the bitter 2020 election contest and the January 6 Capitol riot two weeks earlier.

Excerpts published this week show Trump wrote that coming to work in the Oval Office was "a blessing beyond imagination." He added that Biden had the chance to choose his place in history and that he knew Biden would "be true to yourself and the American people." The letter continued that many presidents simply governed as Republicans or Democrats without changing history, but "this will not happen to you because I know how much you love the American people."

Biden described the letter as surprisingly gracious and noted it made him feel "as if there were two Donald Trumps." He contrasted the private message with Trump's public challenges to the election results and refusal to attend the inauguration. Biden's book, titled Promise Me, America, and scheduled for release November 17, reprints the letter in full.

The memoir also sharply criticizes Trump's role in the January 6 events, calling it an insurrection aimed at remaining in power and stating that those actions "should never be forgotten" and "should follow him to his grave." Biden has opposed clemency for January 6 defendants, which President Trump granted after returning to office in 2025.

Reports indicate Biden is limiting promotional appearances for the book due to ongoing prostate cancer treatment. The disclosure comes amid ongoing political divisions, with the letter highlighting a private gesture of civility between the two men even as public rhetoric remained heated.

The New York Times first obtained the excerpt, and other outlets, including the Associated Press, reviewed a photocopy of the original note. Trump has not publicly commented on the revelation.