Was Joe Biden a good president?

Assessing whether Joe Biden’s presidency (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) was "good" is a subject of ongoing debate among historians, political scientists, and the public. His legacy is viewed through sharply contrasting lenses, depending on whether one focuses on his legislative record and post-pandemic recovery, or on the challenges of inflation, immigration, and foreign policy crises.

Arguments in Favor (Key Achievements and Successes)

Supporters and center-left analysts argue that Biden’s presidency was highly consequential and successful, particularly in terms of domestic policy and legislative output:

•Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite holding razor-thin majorities in Congress during his first two years, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and major pieces of legislation into law:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that expanded vaccine distribution and provided direct financial relief to millions of Americans.

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water systems.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): A law aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research to compete with China.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest investment in green energy and climate change initiatives in U.S. history, which also capped insulin costs for seniors on Medicare.

•Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. experienced the strongest post-pandemic economic recovery among G7 nations. During his term, the economy added over 15 million jobs, and unemployment rates fell to historic, multi-decade lows.

•Restoration of Alliances and Democratic Norms: On the international stage, Biden repaired traditional diplomatic alliances, particularly with NATO, and led a unified Western response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Domestically, supporters credit him with lowering the temperature of American politics and restoring institutional norms following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

•Diversity in Leadership: Biden fulfilled his promise of building an administration that "looked like America," appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and serving alongside Kamala Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian Vice President.

Arguments Against (Major Criticisms and Failures)

Critics, conservatives, and some progressive skeptics argue that his presidency was marked by crises and a decline in national stability:

•Surging Inflation and Cost of Living: The most persistent political vulnerability for the Biden administration was inflation, which reached a 40-year high in 2022 and averaged 5.4% annually during his term. Opponents argue that massive federal spending—particularly the American Rescue Plan—overheated the economy, leading to a steep rise in the cost of food, gas, and housing, and prompting the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sharply.

•Border and Immigration Crises: Biden’s handling of the U.S. southern border drew severe bipartisan criticism. The administration struggled to manage record-breaking surges of migrants crossing into the U.S.. Republicans blamed his rollback of strict Trump-era enforcement policies for the crisis, while some progressive critics argued his humanitarian efforts were insufficient.

•Foreign Policy Missteps:

•The Withdrawal from Afghanistan (2021): The chaotic U.S. military exit from Kabul in August 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power, severely damaged his credibility and approval ratings.

•Geopolitical Instability: Critics argue his foreign policy projected weakness, failing to deter Russia from invading Ukraine and struggling to manage escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly during the Israel-Hamas war. Progressives also heavily criticized his steadfast military support for Israel's campaign in Gaza.

•Age, Communication, and Reelection Exit: Concerns over Biden's age (entering office at 78 and leaving at 82) and communication skills were a constant source of debate. Following a poor performance in a June 2024 debate against Donald Trump, intense pressure from within his own party led him to drop his reelection bid in July 2024. He became the first eligible incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 not to seek a second term.

How Historians and the Public View Him

•Scholarly Rankings: Presidential historians and political scientists generally view Biden's legislative achievements favorably. In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, a poll of nearly 200 presidential specialists ranked Joe Biden as the 14th best president in U.S. history, placing him in the top third of all chief executives. Scholars pointed to his major legislative victories and his role in steadying democratic institutions as key reasons for the high ranking.

•Public Approval: In contrast, public sentiment during his presidency was consistently low, with his approval rating frequently hovering in the high 30s to low 40s. For many average Americans, frustration over daily expenses, high interest rates, and the perception of a chaotic southern border outweighed his administration's legislative successes.

Conclusion

Ultimately, whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on which aspects of his tenure are prioritized. To those who value a steady restoration of political norms, significant climate and infrastructure investment, and robust international alliances, his term was highly successful. To those who prioritize border security, price stability, and strong international deterrence, his administration fell short of expectations.

Citations (11)

1britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “His legacy is viewed through sharply contrasting lenses, depending on whether one focuses on his legislative record and post-pandemic recovery, or on the challenges of inflation, immigration, and foreign policy crises.”
2port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “His legacy is viewed through sharply contrasting lenses, depending on whether one focuses on his legislative record and post-pandemic recovery, or on the challenges of inflation, immigration, and foreign policy crises.”
3cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite holding razor-thin majorities in Congress during his first two years, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and major pieces of legislation into law: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that expanded vaccine distribution and provided…”
4wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. experienced the strongest post-pandemic economic recovery among G7 nations. During his term, the economy added over 15 million jobs, and unemployment rates fell to historic, multi-decade lows.”
5miamidadedems.orgNonprofits and think tanks
miamidadedems.org
Backs: “During his term, the economy added over 15 million jobs, and unemployment rates fell to historic, multi-decade lows. Restoration of Alliances and Democratic Norms: On the international stage, Biden repaired traditional diplomatic alliances, particularly with NATO, and led a unified Western response to Russia’s 2022…”
6study.comNot yet classified
study.com
Backs: “Restoration of Alliances and Democratic Norms: On the international stage, Biden repaired traditional diplomatic alliances, particularly with NATO, and led a unified Western response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.”
7millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Domestically, supporters credit him with lowering the temperature of American politics and restoring institutional norms following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Diversity in Leadership: Biden fulfilled his promise of building an administration that "looked like America," appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson as the…”
8democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “Diversity in Leadership: Biden fulfilled his promise of building an administration that "looked like America," appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and serving alongside Kamala Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian Vice President.”
9latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “Scholarly Rankings: Presidential historians and political scientists generally view Biden's legislative achievements favorably. In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, a poll of nearly 200 presidential specialists ranked Joe Biden as the 14th best president in U.S.”
10uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, a poll of nearly 200 presidential specialists ranked Joe Biden as the 14th best president in U.S. history, placing him in the top third of all chief executives. Scholars pointed to his major legislative victories and his role in steadying democratic institutions as…”
11youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “Public Approval: In contrast, public sentiment during his presidency was consistently low, with his approval rating frequently hovering in the high 30s to low 40s. For many average Americans, frustration over daily expenses, high interest rates, and the perception of a chaotic southern border outweighed his…”