In a lighter moment during an otherwise solemn Inauguration Day, President Donald Trump shared an entertaining exchange with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy while signing executive orders in the Oval Office.

The interaction, centered around a longstanding presidential tradition, provided a rare humorous break in the day’s events.

While Trump worked through a large stack of executive orders—fulfilling over 200 campaign promises made during his 2024 presidential run—Doocy posed a question that caught the president’s attention.

“President Trump, did President Biden leave you a letter?” Doocy asked, referencing the tradition of outgoing presidents leaving notes for their successors.

Without looking up from the document he was signing, Trump replied, “He may have.” Moments later, he paused, gesturing with his index finger for Doocy to wait. Pushing back slightly from the Resolute Desk, Trump asked aloud, “Don’t they leave it in the desk?”

Trump opened the desk drawer, and with a surprised expression, exclaimed, “Ooh!” as he found an envelope.

Reporters quickly pressed him for details, asking what the envelope said. Trump, always a showman, teased the possibility of opening and reading it on the spot.

“Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before I found it,” he quipped.

When asked if he would disclose what the letter read, Trump hesitated, saying, “Maybe I’ll read it first, then I’ll make that determination.”

He thanked Doocy again for prompting the discovery, joking that he might not have noticed the letter “for months” without the reporter’s question.

As Trump placed the letter back into the drawer, he recalled the note he had left for Biden in 2021 when he departed the White House.

“I left him one in the desk just like this,” he said, reflecting on the tradition that symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power.

President Trump finds the letter left to him by President Biden pic.twitter.com/uOfUsSgTlf

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 21, 2025

The moment provided a glimpse of levity amid a busy day, with Trump executing a packed agenda of executive actions immediately after his swearing-in.

The exchange between Trump and Doocy underscored the significance of traditions like the presidential letter, even amid the weighty responsibilities of leadership.

The clip of the interaction quickly circulated online, offering viewers a brief, candid moment from the newly sworn-in president’s first day in office.

While Trump refrained from revealing the contents of Biden’s letter, the moment highlighted his ability to engage with the press and the public in an unexpected and relatable way.

The day continued with Trump addressing critical policy priorities, but the lighthearted exchange with Doocy served as a reminder of the unique traditions and moments that accompany the start of a presidential term.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sean Parnell. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.