Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of intense debate, with evaluations deeply divided along political lines. Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded relatively recently, historians and political scientists are still assessing his long-term legacy.

At the end of his term, public polling reflected a highly polarized nation: a January 2025 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans expected history to remember Biden as a "below average" or "poor" president, while 19% expected him to be viewed as "outstanding" or "above average," and 26% rated him as "average."

To understand his presidency, it is helpful to look at the primary arguments from both his supporters and his critics.

Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (The Successes)

Supporters and some political historians argue that Biden was a highly consequential president who passed major, transformative legislation despite working with a razor-thin, divided Congress.

•Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark bipartisan and partisan bills into law:

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband internet.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest investment in climate change mitigation and green energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped insulin costs for seniors.

•The American Rescue Plan: A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks to Americans, and expanded the child tax credit.

•Economic Recovery: Under his administration, the U.S. experienced one of the strongest post-pandemic economic recoveries among G7 nations. Unemployment fell to historic, 70-year lows, and over 16 million jobs were created during his single term.

•Rebuilding Foreign Alliances: Biden repaired international alliances, particularly within NATO, which had been strained under the previous administration. He successfully rallied a global coalition to support Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Social and Judicial Milestones: Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female Supreme Court justice, enacted the first meaningful federal gun safety reform in decades, and attempted broad student loan forgiveness (though major parts were ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court).

Arguments Against His Presidency (The Failures and Criticisms)

Critics, including political opponents and disappointed voters, point to severe economic pressures, major foreign policy setbacks, and domestic crises as evidence of a failed or mediocre presidency.

•High Inflation and Cost of Living: Although the job market was strong, high inflation (which peaked at 9.1% in 2022 and averaged over 5% during his term) severely strained household budgets. Critics blamed Biden’s massive federal spending packages, such as the American Rescue Plan, for overheating the economy and driving up prices for gas, groceries, and housing.

•The Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal: In August 2021, the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year war. The evacuation was widely criticized as chaotic and poorly executed. It resulted in the swift return of the Taliban, the abandonment of local allies, and the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a bombing at Kabul airport. This event marked a permanent turning point downward in Biden’s public approval ratings.

•Southern Border and Immigration: Biden’s administration faced severe criticism over security and humanitarian management at the U.S.–Mexico border. Record numbers of migrant crossings overwhelmed local resources in border states and major cities, turning immigration into one of his biggest political vulnerabilities.

•Foreign Policy Crises: Critics on both the left and right expressed frustration with Biden's handling of international conflicts. His steadfast support of Israel during the war in Gaza alienated progressives and younger voters who decried the humanitarian crisis, while conservative critics argued his foreign policy posture projected weakness and failed to deter global adversaries.

•Age, Communication, and Political Strategy: Biden's advanced age (becoming the oldest sitting president in U.S. history) and frequent public stumbles raised persistent questions about his physical and mental fitness. His decision to seek re-election, followed by a late and forced withdrawal from the 2024 campaign, led some within his own party to blame his delay for fracturing the Democratic platform and contributing to Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Conclusion

Ultimately, how Joe Biden is remembered depends on what criteria are prioritized. Supporters view him as a steady, highly productive leader who rescued the country from a pandemic, passed generational investments in infrastructure and climate, and restored traditional democratic norms. Critics see his tenure as a period defined by punishing inflation, a porous southern border, global instability, and a presidency that ended in political retreat.

Citations (8)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of intense debate, with evaluations deeply divided along political lines.”
2millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded relatively recently, historians and political scientists are still assessing his long-term legacy.”
3washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded relatively recently, historians and political scientists are still assessing his long-term legacy.”
4gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “At the end of his term, public polling reflected a highly polarized nation: a January 2025 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans expected history to remember Biden as a "below average" or "poor" president, while 19% expected him to be viewed as "outstanding" or "above average," and 26% rated him as "average."”
5cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters and some political historians argue that Biden was a highly consequential president who passed major, transformative legislation despite working with a razor-thin, divided Congress.”
6reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband internet. The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.”
7unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband internet. The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.”
8wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest investment in climate change mitigation and green energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped insulin costs for seniors. The American Rescue Plan: A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution,…”