When Obama wrote Trump

It is a long tradition for presidents to leave a letter on Inauguration Day for their successors, and it often provides an interesting glimpse into the mind and values of the writer — and, over time, the recipient.

Here is Obama’s letter to Trump:

Dear Mr. President

Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.

It’s worth noting that, despite constant criticism by Trump (including Trump’s long leadership of questioning whether Obama was born in the US), Obama has never questioned or denied that Trump won the election or that he should be considered President.

This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years.

I do wonder if Trump ever actually read this letter, or just had one of his lieutentants do so.

First, we’ve both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It’s up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that’s willing to work hard.

Trump seems singularly uninterested in this area. From supporting (if in fits and starts) plans that would kick a lot of struggling families off Medicaid, to vaguely proposed tax policy, to current leaked plans about getting rid of DACA, Trump’s only attempts to “build ladders of success” and prosperity for those struggling has been old trickle-down “horse and sparrow” economics: benefit big businesses and their owners, and, somewhere down the line, surely some less fortunate person will get a few bucks of it.

Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It’s up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.

Trump has up-ended this idea into an angry America First / American Alone strategy, insulting allies and trading partners, rattling sabers, and making it clear that anything the US does over its borders will be transactional (“What’s in it for us?”), not based on any principle or strategy.

Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office.

I do believe Trump knows this, but his priorities and around it are skewed. On the one hand, I think one of his great drivers in being president (now that he’s found himself there) is that he wants to be famous and acclaimed, and he wants to be treated with the adulation and obedience he thinks comes from the position. He seems to see the office as a monarchy — command, and it happens. When that fails, he gets testy.

Second, his understanding of “temporary” seems also to be not worrying about what happens after he’s out of office or no longer worried about earthly concerns. As long as there are yuge statues to him still dotting the landscape, he seems to have no interest as to what that landscape looks like.

That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions — like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties — that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it’s up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.

Again, Trump’s interest is in getting what Trump wants. Institutions and traditions are of no value to him; indeed, the usually get in his way, so he ignores them when he can. Indeed, his whole “drain the swamp” mantra is a promise to do so — which is fine, if he were actually eliminating corruption and cronyism and elitism in Washington, whereas what he actually seems to be doing is simply replacing it with his own.

Rule of law? Doesn’t apply to the president. Separation of powers? That means he can blame Congress for not doing what he’s commanded. Equal protection and civil liberties? Yeah, Jeff Sessions is a fine choice there.

Will the “instruments of our democracy” be as strong when Trump leaves? They’ve already been weakened.

And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches.

I do worry that Trump lives a largely isolated life. His wife and youngest son took months to move to DC. He has his daughter and son-in-law in as official advisors, but that just means anything relationship-based with them is always tainted with politics and policy. He has an ever-changing list of political advisors, but they seem most interested in what they can get from him, or how they can manage him, or how they can survive the administration. He gets away from DC on a regular basis, but more to spend time with a broad list of acquaintances, not what seem to be close friends.

I can’t help but think if he had some close personal contacts to vent to, we’d see less of that venting in his twitter feed.

Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can.

Good luck and Godspeed, BO

You know, if Donald Trump invited Obama to the White House at some point, just to chat, I would feel worlds better. Having someone with whom he could share feelings about the burden of office, someone who would tell him (whether he accepted it or not) disagreeable things, even just the imagery of reaching out to another person, would all be fine things for Trump.

But Trump would see that — or, more so, would think others would see that — as weakness, as dependency, as compromise. Everything about the old king’s regime has to be destroyed. The new king must wear the crown alone. Only then will he be obeyed, and respected, and adored. Only then will those yuge gilt statues be justified in the future.

One wonders what words of advice and counsel and offers of help Trump will write to his successor. Or will he even bother?

The full letter Barack Obama left for Donald Trump on Inauguration Day
Before leaving office, Barack Obama left a handwritten letter for Donald Trump offering some advice.

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