Biden describes Trump's 'fawning' Oval Office visit
The former president says his successor suggested they would be golfing buddies if not for their political rivalry.
By Adriana Abebe ·
President Joe Biden described a surprisingly warm private meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office eight days after the 2024 election. The encounter left Biden speechless, according to an excerpt from his forthcoming memoir, “Promise Me, America,” published in The Atlantic on Monday.
Biden wrote that Trump was immediately chatty and adopted a friendly tone that made him think the former president might be joking. “It bordered on fawning,” Biden stated. Trump reportedly told Biden, “You know, Joe, if it weren’t for politics, I believe we’d be good friends.”
The former president added that Trump seemed intoxicated by the conversational path he had chosen. “Yes, if it weren’t for politics, we’d spend all our time golfing together,” Trump said. Biden noted he was too stunned to respond and likely blinked.
Trump praised Biden’s work in the White House, calling his job-creation efforts “extraordinary.” The former president also said he was “relieved he didn’t have to run against me.” Biden admitted he did not understand why Trump was being so complimentary and cut off the praise to move on to business.
This private interaction contrasts with Trump’s public record over the last decade. He has frequently labeled Biden “Sleepy Joe,” “Crooked Joe,” and “Crazy Joe.” Trump has also continued to promote the claim that the 2020 election was rigged by the Democratic Party. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump and his officials have blamed Biden for inflation, immigration, and foreign policy issues.
