What President Joe Biden Said to Donald Trump During Milestone Inauguration Reunion
Joe Biden had a swan song for President Donald Trump.
Days after the 47th president took office, Trump revealed to White House reporters that his predecessor Biden left behind a “very nice letter.”
Trump found the token—a tradition in which presidents leave letters for their successors inside the Oval Office’s Resolute desk—while signing executive orders in front of reporters, per Fox News, and later shared its contents.
“As I take leave of this sacred office I wish you and your family all the best in the next four years,” Biden wrote per the outlet. “The American people—and people around the world—look to this house for steadiness in the inevitable storms of history, and my prayer is that in the coming years will be a time of prosperity, peace, and grace for our nation.”
Before signing off, Biden added, “May God bless you and guide you as He has blessed and guided our beloved country since our founding.”
After sharing the letter’s contents, Trump called the note—as well as the office itself—“important.”
“It was a positive, for him, in writing it,” Trump added to White House reporters. “I appreciated the letter.”
Trump revealing Biden’s gesture comes two days after he and Vice President JD Vance were sworn in on Inauguration Day. The event was attended by Trump and Vance’s respective families, as well as former presidents Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton as well as tech giants like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Prior to the event, Biden and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden greeted Trump and First Lady Melania Trump outside the White House. The former president proved his chivalrous attitude toward the ceremony by telling Trump and Melania as they exited their vehicle, per The Washington Post, “Welcome home!”
Of course, Biden and his wife didn’t leave the White House without one last photo op for themselves.
Alongside a selfie of the couple shared to his official presidential social media, he wrote, “One final photo. We love you America.”
Keep reading for more insight into Trump’s inauguration…
Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Take them to church: Barron Trump joined mom Melania Trump (in a coat by American designer Adam Lippes) and his father, president Donald Trump for services at Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Church as part of the 2025 Inauguration Day festivities Jan. 20.
Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Ivanka Trump
Incoming first daughter Ivanka Trump also put on her Monday best for the church services.
Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump
"Welcome home," President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House.
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff were also on hand to welcome VP JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance at the White House.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump
Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John's Church services.
Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner
Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Elon Musk
Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump
Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. "While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like," she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, "I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony."
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush
Among the former presidents and first ladies on hand: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama
With wife Michelle Obama not attending, former president Barack Obama hung with the Bushes.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mike Pence
Trump's former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony.
Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images
Eric Adams
New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.
Photo by KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky
Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova
Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Robert F. Kennedy
Trump's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao
Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.
Shutterstock
Jake Paul & Logan Paul
Influencer turned boxer Jake Paul was on hand with his brother, wrestler Logan Paul.
Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images
Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined Amazon exec Jeff Bezos, his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Pichai and Musk on the dias at the Capitol.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Barron Trump
Trump's youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time.
Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Christopher Macchio
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. "I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall," he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. "Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor."
SHAWN THEW/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Shou Zi Chew
Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem
Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
JD Vance, Usha Vance & Donald Trump
Just before noon, Vance took the oath of office to become vice president while wife Usha and daughter Mirabel looked on.
Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images
Rudy Giuliani
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani captured the festivities.
SAUL LOEB/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Donald Trump
Minutes after Vance was sworn in, Trump took his oath of office for the second time.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bernie Sanders
What, no mittens? Vermont senator Bernie Sanders ditched the outerwear for the festitivites inside the Capitol.
SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Carrie Underwood
After technical difficulties forced her to perform a capella, American Idol's season four winner Carrie Underwood blew the crowd away with her rendition of "America the Beautiful".
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