Will Biden leave Trump a note? The presidential tradition explained
Trump inauguration moved indoors
President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of intense cold weather. The Rotunda is prepared as an alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather. The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term.
The tradition of outgoing U.S. presidents leaving a note for their successors has become a hallmark of peaceful transitions of power. Ronald Reagan started the custom in 1989, and every president since has continued it.
But as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House as the 47th president, the question looms: Will President Biden leave a note for his predecessor-turned-successor?
How the tradition of presidential letters began
The backstory:
The custom started in 1989 when Ronald Reagan left a handwritten note for his vice president and incoming successor, George H.W. Bush. The lighthearted note, written on cartoon stationery, advised Bush to "not let the turkeys get you down."
Since then, every outgoing president has left a letter for their successor, often offering encouragement, advice, or a message of unity. George H.W. Bush’s 1993 note to Bill Clinton famously read, "Your success now is our country’s success. I am rooting hard for you."
These letters have become a rare moment of goodwill in the often-contentious transfer of power.
Trump’s surprising continuation of the tradition
Big picture view:
The tradition of outgoing presidents leaving a letter for their successors has become a rare moment of unity amid the political transitions of power.
Donald Trump, despite breaking many presidential norms, surprised many by continuing this tradition in 2021, leaving a handwritten note for Joe Biden. While Biden described the letter as "very generous," its contents remain private, adding intrigue to the gesture.
RELATED: 'Good luck and Godspeed': Read letters that outgoing US presidents wrote to their successors
As Biden faces the decision of whether to write a note for Trump—who would be the first president to return to office after leaving—this tradition takes on a new layer of complexity. If Biden participates, it could reflect the enduring significance of this custom, even in unprecedented circumstances.

Conversely, choosing not to write a note would signal a departure from one of the few bipartisan rituals in modern American presidencies.
Will Biden leave Trump a note?
What's next:
Biden, known for respecting political traditions, is expected to write a note for Trump. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said the decision is entirely Biden’s, adding, "It’s a good question. I’m curious, too."
If Biden does write a note, it would mark the first time in history that a president writes to the same individual who previously left a letter for them.
Earlier notes and historical context
Dig deeper:
The tradition of presidential letters has evolved significantly over time. Before Ronald Reagan, these notes were typically practical, like John Adams’ 1801 letter to Thomas Jefferson about leftover White House horses and carriages.
Reagan’s lighthearted note to George H.W. Bush in 1989 set a new tone, transforming these letters into personal reflections and gestures of unity.
Since then, each outgoing president has used the opportunity to offer advice, encouragement, or well-wishes, reinforcing the symbolic importance of the transition of power.