Obama, 55, sent his heartfelt message to the White House email list this morning, writing that he wanted to "say one final thank you" before he wrote a letter to the next commander in chief, Donald Trump.
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama attends talks with Western European leaders at the Chancellery on Nov. 18, 2016, in Berlin. Michael Ukas - Pool /Getty Images
As the world knows, Trump, 70, will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States at noon on Friday. Afterward, the Obamas plan to leave Washington, D.C., immediately for a vacation in Palm Springs.
Read Obama's open letter in full below:
My fellow Americans,
It's a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It's a letter meant to share what we know, what we've learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land,
