The White House called Joe Biden "a disgrace" Tuesday after his forthcoming memoir revealed a private letter in which Donald Trump praised his successor's love for the American people, exposing a striking contrast between Trump's farewell message and the administration's current rhetoric.
The two-page letter, left at the White House in January 2021, appears in Biden's "Promise Me, America," scheduled for publication Nov. 17. Its inclusion was first reported by The New York Times, and The Associated Press reviewed a photocopy.
Asked about the letter and Biden's criticism of Trump elsewhere in the book, White House communications director Steven Cheung accused the former president of ignoring the message.
Biden "should have heeded the President's wise words, but instead he tried to destroy this country and weaponize the justice system against his political enemies," Cheung said. The accusations were part of his response to the memoir, not findings established by its publication.
Trump's handwritten note offered a markedly warmer assessment of Biden as he prepared to take office. Written in black Sharpie on White House stationery, it was enclosed in an envelope addressed to "46," referring to Biden's place in the succession of presidents.
"Many presidents have come and gone who simply governed as Republicans or Democrats," Trump wrote. "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."
The note was unusually gracious against the backdrop of a transition dominated by Trump's rejection of his election defeat. He skipped Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021, and did not host the customary White House tea for the incoming president and first lady.
Biden showed the letter to some staff members after taking office without allowing them to read it. He described it that day as "very generous" but said he considered its contents private.
Trump later indicated that he would leave disclosure to Biden. In a September 2023 interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," he called the letter "a nice note" and said, "I took a lot of time in thinking about it."
Biden's account of Trump elsewhere in the memoir is considerably harsher. In an excerpt published Monday by The Atlantic, he criticized the current administration's dismantling of his policies and its handling of government institutions, including changes pursued through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Biden portrayed Trump as unwilling to preserve worthwhile achievements from an earlier administration, accusing him of seeking to "tear down institutions and inflame hatreds."
His sharpest criticism concerned the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, when lawmakers were meeting to certify Biden's election victory. Biden wrote that Trump "led an insurrection" with the aim of staying in office despite losing the election.
"What Trump did on January 6, 2021, should never be forgotten," Biden wrote. "It should follow him to his grave."
