Trump told Biden they could be friends without politics, book excerpt says

A surprising White House conversation

Biden recounts hosting Trump, then president-elect, at the White House in November 2024. In an excerpt published in The Atlantic, Biden says Trump was “immediately chatty” and adopted a friendly manner that caught him off guard.

Politics and personal rapport

Biden recalled Trump saying they could spend their time golfing together if politics were not in the way. Biden said he was too stunned to answer at first, before Trump continued talking.

The exchange marked a contrast with Trump’s campaign rhetoric, which included insults such as “Sleepy Joe” aimed at his predecessor. Biden’s account presents the meeting as a strikingly cordial moment between political rivals.

Biden’s health and book plans

In a social media post on Sunday, Biden said that some days were better than others and that his condition sometimes slowed him down. He said this would prevent him from having as many conversations about his book as he had hoped, but expressed hope that readers would find the book itself meaningful.

Questions about Biden’s health and mental fitness were prominent late in his second term and during the 2024 campaign. After a damaging debate performance against Trump, Kamala Harris replaced him as the Democratic candidate and lost the presidential race. Critics alleged the administration had concealed the extent of Biden’s health struggles.