Whether Joe Biden was a "good president" is a question of political judgment and values rather than a factual matter I can settle definitively—reasonable people disagree based on what they prioritize (economic policy, foreign policy, social issues, etc.). I can lay out some key facts and differing perspectives so you can form your own view.
Arguments often made in favor:
•Signed major legislation: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (climate/healthcare spending).
•Oversaw a strong post-pandemic jobs recovery and low unemployment for much of his term.
•Rallied NATO/Western support for Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.
•Appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
•Pursued student loan relief efforts and prescription drug price reforms (e.g., Medicare negotiation, insulin caps).
Arguments often made against:
•High inflation during 2021–2023, which eroded real wages and public approval, especially early on.
•Chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
•Rising concerns about immigration and border crossings during parts of his term.
•Questions about his age and mental acuity, especially after his poor debate performance in June 2024.
•Criticism from the left on issues like continued support for Israel during the Gaza war, and from the right on spending and energy policy.
Approval ratings fluctuated significantly—starting relatively high in 2021, dropping during the Afghanistan withdrawal and inflation surge, and remaining generally underwater (more disapproval than approval) for much of 2022–2024.
Would you like me to search for more current retrospective assessments, historian rankings, or specific policy outcomes to dig deeper into any particular area?