Was Joe Biden a good president?
No, not according to most Americans at the time, and the record is mixed and highly polarized—strong in some areas of legislation and economic recovery metrics, weak or damaging in others like inflation's impact, the border, Afghanistan, and public confidence. "Good president" is inherently subjective and depends on one's values (e.g., prioritizing climate action and alliances vs. border security and cost of living). Biden (2021–2025) was a one-term president who left office with low approval and whose party lost the 2024 election. His average Gallup job approval was about 42%, the second-lowest among post-WWII presidents (just above Trump’s first term), starting around 57% and ending near 37–40%.[1]
Historians and analysts note significant legislative achievements despite narrow congressional margins, a robust post-COVID recovery by many metrics, and firm support for Ukraine, but also major setbacks on inflation’s real-world effects, immigration surges, the chaotic Afghanistan exit, handling of the Israel-Hamas war, and perceptions of decline that overshadowed later years.[2][3]
Economic Record
Biden inherited a pandemic-scarred economy. Key positives:
Criticisms center on inflation, which peaked at 9.1% in mid-2022 (40-year high), driven by stimulus, supply shocks, energy, and demand. Cumulative price increases were substantial (~20% overall in some periods; food higher). Real wages lagged for a time for many workers, eroding purchasing power and confidence even as headline stats improved later and wages eventually outpaced prices in periods. Deficits and debt rose significantly. Many voters felt the recovery was uneven or not "felt" amid high costs.[9][6]
The U.S. outperformed much of the developed world post-COVID, but the inflation spike was a political and personal economic disaster for households.
Domestic Policy and Other Achievements
Failures or shortfalls included stalled broader social spending (Build Back Better elements), crime perceptions (though some violent crime metrics later declined from 2020 peaks), and inability to deliver lasting unity or reverse polarization. Age and fitness concerns grew, culminating in his withdrawal from the 2024 race after a poor debate performance.
Immigration and Border
This was a major liability. Southwest border and nationwide encounters reached historic highs—roughly 8.5+ million at the southern border over the term and over 10–11 million nationwide in some tallies (including repeats, ports of entry, and Title 42 expulsions early on)—far exceeding prior periods. Gotaways, unaccompanied minors, and releases into the interior drew heavy criticism. Encounters later fell with policy shifts, Mexican cooperation, and asylum restrictions, but the overall scale strained resources and politics.[10][11][12]
Foreign Policy
Biden restored traditional alliances after Trump but faced a more multipolar, contested world. No new major U.S. wars, but two large proxy/aid-heavy conflicts defined the term.
Overall Assessment
Biden delivered consequential domestic legislation (often compared to major 20th-century packages, achieved with thin majorities) and a strong recovery by conventional metrics, plus solid alliance management on Ukraine.[16] These are durable in some cases (infrastructure, chips, climate incentives). However, the inflation pain, border crisis scale, Afghanistan optics, late-term physical/mental fitness questions, failure to "heal the soul of the nation," and low popularity defined the public verdict. He left office unpopular, with his party out of power, and much of his agenda vulnerable to reversal.[1]
History’s judgment will evolve with long-term outcomes (e.g., climate investments, Ukraine’s fate, debt trajectory, whether industrial policy succeeds). Early scholarly takes call it consequential yet ultimately overshadowed by setbacks and the return of Trump.[17] Public opinion at exit viewed him as below average or poor more often than outstanding. Whether he was "good" hinges on weighting legislative output and recovery stats against lived economic/immigration experiences, foreign missteps, and leadership presence. Both sides have substantial evidence; the electorate rendered a clear negative verdict in 2024.
Citations (17)
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/655298/biden-job-approval-second-lowest-among-post-wwii-presidents.aspx
Backs: “His average Gallup job approval was about 42%, the second-lowest among post-WWII presidents (just above Trump’s first term), starting around 57% and ending near 37–40%.”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Biden's average Gallup approval was about 42%, second-lowest among post-WWII presidents, starting near 57% and ending near 37-40%.
- https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/joe-biden-president-good-bad-legacy-1235240727/
Backs: “Historians and analysts note significant legislative achievements despite narrow congressional margins, a robust post-COVID recovery by many metrics, and firm support for Ukraine, but also major setbacks on inflation’s real-world effects, immigration surges, the chaotic Afghanistan exit, handling of the Israel-Hamas…”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Historians note significant legislative achievements alongside setbacks; major bills and domestic achievements like judicial appointments and student debt relief.
- https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/bidens-legacy-major-accomplishments-unfinished-business
Backs: “Historians and analysts note significant legislative achievements despite narrow congressional margins, a robust post-COVID recovery by many metrics, and firm support for Ukraine, but also major setbacks on inflation’s real-world effects, immigration surges, the chaotic Afghanistan exit, handling of the Israel-Hamas…”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Biden's legacy includes major accomplishments and unfinished business; strong Ukraine support bolstered NATO unity.
- https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/administration-fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-record
Backs: “Roughly 15–16.6+ million jobs added (with consecutive monthly gains for much of the term); unemployment fell from ~6.4% to around 4.1% by the end, hitting multi-decade lows at points (including record lows for some demographic groups) and averaging among the lowest in 50 years. Full-time employment rose.”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: Roughly 15-16.6 million jobs added and unemployment fell from about 6.4% to around 4.1%.
- https://www.investopedia.com/unemployment-rate-by-president-8637843
Backs: “Roughly 15–16.6+ million jobs added (with consecutive monthly gains for much of the term); unemployment fell from ~6.4% to around 4.1% by the end, hitting multi-decade lows at points (including record lows for some demographic groups) and averaging among the lowest in 50 years. Full-time employment rose.”
statistic, data page, points to yes. Claim: Unemployment fell to multi-decade lows and averaged among the lowest in 50 years.
- https://cnn.com/2025/01/19/economy/us-biden-economic-legacy
Backs: “Roughly 15–16.6+ million jobs added (with consecutive monthly gains for much of the term); unemployment fell from ~6.4% to around 4.1% by the end, hitting multi-decade lows at points (including record lows for some demographic groups) and averaging among the lowest in 50 years. Full-time employment rose.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Economic legacy: job gains and soft landing, but inflation eroded purchasing power and confidence.
- https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/10/30/gdp-issue-brief/
Backs: “Real GDP grew substantially (cumulatively ~12.6% in some measures), outperforming many peers and forecasts; the U.S. achieved a "soft landing" with strong consumer spending and investment.”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: Real GDP grew about 12.6% cumulatively, outperforming peers; soft landing achieved.
- https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2024/joe-biden-accomplishments-compromises-failures-president/
Backs: “Inflation Reduction Act (largest U.S. climate investment, plus drug price negotiation for Medicare, insulin caps). Manufacturing investments surged.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Major bills passed: American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Act, CHIPS Act, Inflation Reduction Act.
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/us-politics/joe-biden-successes-failures-as-us-president-b1204148.html
Backs: “Many voters felt the recovery was uneven or not "felt" amid high costs.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Inflation peaked at 9.1% in 2022, cumulative price increases were substantial and real wages lagged.
- https://homeland.house.gov/2024/11/22/startling-stats-factsheet-fy2025-begins-with-over-140000-border-encounters-nationwide-worsening-public-safety-crisis-under-biden-harris-administration/
Backs: “Encounters later fell with policy shifts, Mexican cooperation, and asylum restrictions, but the overall scale strained resources and politics.”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: Border encounters reached historic highs, over 10-11 million nationwide in some tallies.
- https://dailycaller.com/2024/10/22/eight-million-border-encounters-under-biden/
Backs: “Encounters later fell with policy shifts, Mexican cooperation, and asylum restrictions, but the overall scale strained resources and politics.”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Roughly 8.5+ million encounters at the southern border over the term.
- https://www.migrationpolicy.org/journal/policy-beat/bidens-mixed-immigration-legacy-border-challenges-overshadowed-modernization
Backs: “Encounters later fell with policy shifts, Mexican cooperation, and asylum restrictions, but the overall scale strained resources and politics.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Biden's immigration legacy was mixed; encounters later fell with policy shifts while border challenges overshadowed modernization.
- https://millercenter.org/president/biden/foreign-affairs
Backs: “Strong and sustained support (tens of billions in aid, intelligence, sanctions) helped Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion, bolstered NATO unity/expansion, and avoided direct U.S.-Russia war. Widely seen as a success in containing aggression.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Strong sustained Ukraine support helped Ukraine resist Russia and was widely seen as a success.
- https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/02/12/bidens-legacy-achievements-and-failures-of-a-president/
Backs: “Ended the longest U.S. war (following the Trump-era deal), but the 2021 withdrawal was chaotic—rapid Taliban takeover, Abbey Gate bombing (13 U.S. service members killed), stranded allies/Afghans, abandoned equipment. It damaged credibility and approval permanently for many.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: The 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal was chaotic, with the Abbey Gate bombing, and damaged credibility and approval.
- https://www.npr.org/2024/06/11/nx-s1-4992064/wars-biden-presidency-ukraine-gaza
Backs: “China relations involved competition (tech, alliances like AUKUS/Quad) without major breakthroughs or catastrophes.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Israel/Gaza handling criticized from both left and right; wars defined the term.
- https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-legacy-economy-elections/
Backs: “Biden delivered consequential domestic legislation (often compared to major 20th-century packages, achieved with thin majorities) and a strong recovery by conventional metrics, plus solid alliance management on Ukraine.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Biden delivered consequential domestic legislation and strong recovery with thin majorities, plus solid Ukraine alliance management.
- https://muse.jhu.edu/book/144030
Backs: “Early scholarly takes call it consequential yet ultimately overshadowed by setbacks and the return of Trump.”
attribution, reference entry, neutral. Claim: Early scholarly takes call his presidency consequential yet overshadowed by setbacks and Trump's return.