President Donald Trump followed tradition and left a note for President-elect Joe Biden before leaving the White House, according to ABC News.
ABC’s Jon Karl told George Stephanopoulos, “That’s what we are told. He left a note in the Oval Office for Joe Biden. As I mentioned… a friend of the president’s who spoke to him last night believed he did.”
He continued, “Now we have confirmed, in fact, he left the note. What that note said, George, we don’t know.”
Watch his comments below:
BREAKING: @ABC News confirms President Trump did leave the traditional letter for President-elect Biden in the Oval Office..@ABC's @jonkarl reports live.#InaugurationDayhttps://t.co/awrxcnMw7Y
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 20, 2021
LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/UAlbBuSLTS pic.twitter.com/0xFl8FcxBI
Incoming White House communications director, Kate Bedingfield, told Stephanopoulos on Wednesday Biden has not had direct contact with Trump, as IJR previously reported.
In his final remarks as president, Trump told his supporters, “It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president.”
He added, “Have a good life, we will see you soon.”
In a pre-taped address released on Tuesday, Trump wished the incoming administration well, as IJR previously reported.
“This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck — a very important word,” Trump said.
The president will not be attending Biden’s inauguration.
Biden is expected to sign executive orders within his first few days in office in an attempt to roll back some of Trump’s policies, including those on immigration and climate change.
While speaking to his supporters in Delaware on Tuesday, Biden grew emotional and told them, “I’m truly honored to be your next president and commander in chief, and I’ll always be a proud son of the state of Delaware.”
He also tweeted on Wednesday morning ahead of his inauguration, “It’s a new day in America.”
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in around 12 p.m. EST.