The letter Trump left for Biden in the Oval Office has been made public: 'I know how much you love the American people'

Joe Biden revealed in his new book the contents of the letter that Donald Trump left for him in the Oval Office at the end of his first term. According to The New York Times, the former Democratic president included the letter in his new book, "Promise Me, America," which goes on sale on November 17. Until now, Biden had only described the letter as "very generous," without revealing its contents.

According to the NYT, the letter, dated January 20, 2021, was handwritten and signed in black ink, the kind Trump uses to sign official documents.

The warmth of Trump's letter contrasts with the political context of late 2020 and early 2021. Trump did not acknowledge the results of the 2020 presidential election and even challenged the results in several states in court. On January 6, 2021, just two weeks before the transfer of power, a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol while Congress was certifying Biden's victory. Furthermore, the Republican did not attend his successor's inauguration, something no outgoing president had done since Andrew Johnson in 1869.

What does the letter Trump left for Biden say?

In the letter, which begins with "Dear Joe," Trump described his time in the Oval Office as "a blessing beyond imagination" and reflected on the history of that place.

"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," he wrote.

Trump also encouraged Biden to remember the weight of the responsibility he had just assumed: "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," he continued.

Finally, Trump concluded with a blessing for Biden and his wife, Jill, and signed off as "Donald."