Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

It depends on what you value and which metrics you use. Biden’s record has clear achievements and clear shortcomings.

What supporters point to

•Major laws: American Rescue Plan (pandemic aid), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act (semiconductors), Inflation Reduction Act (largest U.S. climate investment, plus Medicare drug negotiations), PACT Act for veterans, bipartisan gun‑safety law, Electoral Count Act reform.

•Economy and jobs: Rapid post‑pandemic recovery; unemployment near 50‑year lows in 2023–24; roughly 15 million jobs added since Jan 2021; inflation that spiked in 2021–22 fell markedly by 2024; real wages recovering; stock market and manufacturing construction at or near records.

•Health and social policy: Mass COVID vaccination and school re‑openings; expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies; the 2021 enhanced Child Tax Credit briefly cut child poverty to a record low (though it expired).

•Climate and industry: Big clean‑energy incentives driving EV, battery, and clean‑tech investment; methane and power‑plant rules; at the same time, U.S. oil and gas output hit record highs.

•Foreign policy: Strong coalition for Ukraine, NATO expansion (Finland, Sweden), AUKUS pact; ended the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

•Courts and appointments: First Black woman on the Supreme Court (Ketanji Brown Jackson) and a large number of federal judges.

•Student debt: Large targeted cancellations via existing programs (over $160B for more than 4 million borrowers) and a new income‑driven repayment plan.

What critics emphasize

•Inflation and costs: Highest inflation in 40 years in 2022 hurt household budgets; some economists argue 2021 stimulus was too big. Even after cooling, prices remain higher than pre‑pandemic.

•Border and immigration: Record illegal crossings; policies seen as inconsistent; a bipartisan border deal failed in Congress; new executive restrictions drew criticism from both sides.

•Afghanistan withdrawal: Chaotic and deadly exit in 2021 hurt credibility despite ending a long war.

•Crime and public safety: Violent crime surged in 2020–21, then fell in many places by 2023–24; perceptions of disorder persisted.

•Unfinished agenda: Couldn’t pass voting‑rights, broad immigration reform, police reform, or codify abortion rights given Senate math.

•Age and communication: Persistent concerns about his age and public communication.

•Israel‑Hamas war: Approach drew criticism from both pro‑Israel and pro‑Palestinian advocates.

Bottom line

•By legislative output and post‑pandemic stabilization, many analysts would rate his term as substantively productive.

•If you prioritize low inflation, stricter border enforcement, or judge heavily on the Afghanistan exit, you may rate him poorly.

Tell me which issues matter most to you (economy, immigration, foreign policy, climate, rights, etc.), and I can give a more tailored assessment.

Was Joe Biden a good president?

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