Although Donald Trump did not attend President Joe Biden‘s inauguration, he did leave a letter for his successor inside the Oval Office — continuing at least one tradition during the transition of power.
Trump spokesperson Judd Deere confirmed Wednesday that the outgoing president had left a letter for Biden in the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk, but did not disclose its contents.
The letter tradition was started by former President Ronald Reagan for his vice president George H.W. Bush.
Reagan’s message was written on stationery that included the phrase “Don’t let the turkeys get you down” with a depiction of an elephant surrounded by the fowl.
Trump himself received a letter from President Barack Obama wishing him well and urging him to leave the “instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.”
The move is rather surprising given that Trump has ignored other traditions, including breaking the 152-year long tradition of attending the successor’s inauguration, as well as former First Lady Melania Trump forsaking the 100-year-old tradition of hosting a tea and White House tour for the incoming First Lady.
