‘To 46’: Biden reveals Trump’s gracious pre-inauguration letter in new memoir

The memoir of incoming President Joe Biden, "Promise Me, America," includes a copy of a two-page letter written by outgoing President Donald Trump in January 2021, just before his departure from office. The letter, addressed to "46," was written on White House stationery and reveals a surprising sentiment from Trump, who publicly denied losing the 2020 election and accused Democrats of stealing it.

In the letter, Trump lauded Biden as someone he believed "will be true to yourself and the American people." He went on to say, "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."

Trump's letter was private, and Biden showed it to some of his staff after his inauguration but did not let anyone read it, considering it to be private. Biden later described the letter as "very generous." The memoir also includes Biden's harsh criticism of Trump, particularly his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, which he described as an insurrection aimed at remaining in power after losing the election.