Dear Joe,
Coming to work every day in the Oval Office is a blessing beyond imagination. History resounds from every wall, every statue, every beautiful painting, and every corner of this magical place. Each staircase, hallway, and door leads to yet another door and memory, another inflection point in the glorious story of America.
I hope you take a moment every single day to take stock of where you are and the people who came before you, the titans who shaped the course of human events. You now have the opportunity to choose your place in history, and I know you will be true to yourself and the American people.
Many presidents have come and gone who simply governed as Republicans or Democrats. Largely, they did not change history, they were just swept along in its relentless tide. This will not happen to you because I know how much you love the American people.
Not only are you joined by the past, but you carry the hopes and dreams of the entire nation on your shoulders. The gravity of that fact never leaves you, it is the anchor that grounds every decision you make.
Your strength, your deepest reservoir of energy, comes from the knowledge that millions upon millions of people are depending on you. Their ambitions and aspirations are the reason you are here, with so many counting on your success.
May God bless you and Jill, and may God bless America!
Sincerely,
Donald
Trump’s message to Biden stands in sharp contrast to his frequent public attacks on him everywhere else, including on the campaign trail and in office. Trump has previously called Biden a “low IQ individual,” “a TOTAL FAILURE” and despite their similar ages, repeatedly referred to him as “Sleepy Joe,” a nickname mocking Biden’s perceived lack of energy.
In response to the letter, the White House appeared to return to Trump’s familiar attacks on Biden.
In a statement to the Times, White House communications director Steven Cheung said, “Joe Biden should have heeded the president’s wise words, but instead he tried to destroy this country and weaponize the justice system against his political enemies. Biden is a disgrace, and America is better off with him no longer as president.”
On Monday, Biden announced he was reducing his appearances on his book tour amid his battle with prostate cancer, a diagnosis his office disclosed in May 2025.
In his new memoir, Biden also reflects on notable events in his presidency, including the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol weeks before he took office, the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and his decision to end his re-election campaign in 2024, according to his publisher, Hachette Book Group.
