A previously unpublished 2021 transition letter reportedly gives Donald Trump’s language toward Joe Biden a notably warmer tone than his later public rhetoric would suggest. That specific contrast is the significance of the passages now reported from Biden’s memoir: they record a moment of institutional courtesy, not evidence of a durable personal bond between the two men.
Der Spiegel, citing advance reporting by The New York Times on Biden’s book “Promise Me, America,” reports that Trump wrote to Biden on January 20, 2021 that Biden could choose his place in history. Trump also reportedly said he knew how much Biden loved the American people and that Biden would remain true to himself and the country. The letter was addressed “To 46,” a reference to Biden as the 46th US president.
The language stands out because Trump repeatedly attacked Biden during the campaign, throughout Biden’s presidency and afterward. According to the report, Trump still does not publicly acknowledge Biden’s 2020 election victory. The warm letter does not erase that public record. It does, however, show that the handover was framed differently in this message than in the political confrontation that otherwise defined their relationship.
The White House response also keeps the contrast in view. Communications director Steven Cheung said, according to Der Spiegel, that Biden should have listened to Trump’s “wise words,” before sharply attacking the former president. That response does not support a retrospective story of mutual esteem; it illustrates how a courteous transition message and continuing political hostility can coexist.
The available report relies on quoted excerpts from the book, and the full letter is not included in the supplied material. The reported passages therefore speak most clearly to the tone of this one message, rather than settling the wider personal or political relationship between Trump and Biden.
Sources
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-11
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-11