This is the letter President Obama left for the incoming president, Donald Trump with a few additional comments by me. It was a lovely letter. No offense, President Obama. It was just missing a few things.
Dear Mr. President -
Congratulations on a remarkable run.
(And, by remarkable he means, it’s worth remarking on. I mean, how did you con millions of people into believing you were capable of faithfully executing the duties of President of the United States? THAT’S remarkable.)
Millions have placed their hopes in you,
(not as many millions as had placed their hopes in Hillary Clinton, but that’s for another conversation)
and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.
(Confession: After your “I love war” statement, I decided the best I could hope for is that others prevent you from fecking up the prosperity and security we’ve grown to appreciate during the last administration. And, Obama is right, we SHOULD hope. But, frankly my hope died when you were elected. It took a lot to kill it. I mean, I’ve been holding out hope for a pony since I was 5, (I’m a hoper!) but when you bragged about sexually assaulting a woman, mocked a disabled reporter, a gold-star family, made disparaging comments about Mexicans and Muslims, weren’t immediately dropped from the ticket and THEN got elected, I held a burial for my hope in my backyard with a popsicle stick cross to mark the spot.)
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.
(especially given your history of being unwilling to take advice from others who have more expertise than you).
Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years. First, we've both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune.
(Yes. After college, Obama attended an Ivy League law school, served others as a community organizer, financial researcher and writer, law professor teaching Constitutional Law and then served his country as an Illinois State Senator and US Senator before running for president. You got several significant loans from your father to continue the family real estate business and had a reality tv show.)
Not everyone is so lucky.
(I can attest to this. A little luck or millions of dollars in loans would have gone a long way toward changing the trajectory of my life. But, that’s a conversation for another time and place.)
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.
(Note the word EVERY! Not just those who look and think like you!)
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.
(This is important. Right now our allies are scrambling to figure out ways to work around you. Get with it before you get us all killed. Allies are important.)
Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. 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.
(So far, you’ve earned an “F” in those areas. When it comes to rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties, it’s become abundantly clear, you don’t understand the Constitution or your duty to uphold it.)
And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They'll get you through the inevitable rough patches.
(In your case, the best way they can help you is to get you OUT of Washington. Melania doesn’t like you and it’s clear you don’t like her or treat her well. I’m not even a betting woman, but I’m going to put all my chips on “this marriage is a big, fat charade.” Your kids seem to care about you, but it’s hard to know if they’d be as attached to you if you were a middle-class working stiff. I mean, they probably believe they stand to inherit billions. But, until you release your tax returns, and until the investigation on your business dealings is complete, there’s really no way to know that, is there? We’ll see how that one plays out.)
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.
(You should take him up on it, Donald. You need help.)
Good luck and Godspeed,
BO
(and KO)
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