Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate, and the answer largely depends on which issues a person prioritizes. Having completed his single term in January 2025—following his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race—his presidency is viewed through two very different lenses by historians, political analysts, and the public.

While academic presidential historians often rank Biden quite highly for his substantial legislative achievements (placing him 14th overall in a major 2024 survey), contemporary public opinion of his performance was far more critical, with his approval ratings hovering around 39% as he left office.

An overview of the primary arguments for and against his presidency highlights these differing perspectives.

Arguments That Joe Biden Was a Good President

Supporters and historians who rate Biden's presidency favorably point to several key achievements, particularly in domestic legislation, economic recovery, and international alliances.

•Major Legislative Achievements: Despite working with a highly polarized and narrowly divided Congress, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan pieces of legislation into law:

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($1.2 trillion): Funded long-overdue repairs and upgrades to America's roads, bridges, public transit, clean water systems, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: Provided tens of billions of dollars to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing, reducing U.S. reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest federal investment in fighting climate change and promoting green energy in U.S. history, while also allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping insulin costs at $35/month for seniors.

•Job Growth and Post-Pandemic Recovery: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. experienced record-breaking job growth. The economy added millions of jobs, unemployment fell to historic lows, and the U.S. economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic outpaced almost all other developed nations.

•COVID-19 Management: Entering office at a peak of the pandemic, his administration established a structured national vaccine distribution plan, restored public health guidance based on scientific consensus, and passed the American Rescue Plan to provide direct financial relief to families and local governments.

•Foreign Policy and Global Alliances: Biden restored traditional alliances that had been strained during the Trump administration. Notably, he re-entered the Paris Climate Agreement and successfully mobilized NATO and Western allies to provide critical military and financial support to Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Judicial and Social Progress: Biden appointed a historic number of diverse federal judges, including Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice. He also signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years.

Arguments That Joe Biden Was a Poor President

Critics, including political opponents and a large portion of the electorate, argue that Biden's presidency was marked by economic hardship, border security failures, and major foreign policy setbacks.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: The most prominent criticism of Biden’s presidency was the surge in inflation, which reached its highest levels in 40 years. Critics argue that the massive influx of federal cash from his COVID-19 relief packages (like the American Rescue Plan) overheated the economy. Although inflation eventually cooled, the high cost of groceries, gas, and housing severely strained household budgets and damaged public trust in his economic leadership.

•Immigration and Border Security: The southern border saw record numbers of migrant crossings during Biden's term, leading to intense criticism. Opponents argued that the administration's early moves to roll back several Trump-era border restrictions sent a signal of leniency. Even as the administration later implemented stricter asylum controls, the border situation remained a primary source of political vulnerability.

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan in August 2021 was widely viewed as a major foreign policy failure. The operation resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, left billions of dollars in military equipment behind, and allowed the Taliban to rapidly retake control of the country, severely denting Biden's reputation for competence.

•Geopolitical Instability: Critics pointed to the outbreak of major global conflicts—including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war in the Middle East following the October 7 Hamas attacks—as evidence that America's deterrence had weakened under his watch. Furthermore, his strong backing of Israel alienated progressive and Arab-American voters, splitting his own political base.

•Age Concerns and Public Communication: As the oldest president in U.S. history, Biden faced persistent questions regarding his age and mental sharpness. Critics argued his public appearances and verbal slips projected a sense of weakness. This issue culminated in a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, which ultimately forced him to yield the Democratic nomination.

Conclusion

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on what criteria are used to judge him:

•From a legislative and systemic perspective, many view him as highly successful, pointing to a monumental domestic agenda that rebuilt infrastructure, invested in future technologies, and strengthened global alliances.

•From a day-to-day public perspective, many view his presidency as disappointing, overshadowed by painful inflation, foreign policy crises, and an unstable southern border.

Ultimately, his legacy remains a tale of two distinct realities: a remarkably productive legislative presidency on paper, contrasted with a challenging period of inflation and global instability that left many voters feeling worse off.

Citations (9)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate, and the answer largely depends on which issues a person prioritizes.”
attribution, article, neutral. Claim: Whether Biden was a good president is debated and depends on which issues a person prioritizes.
2reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate, and the answer largely depends on which issues a person prioritizes.”
attribution, other, neutral. Claim: Whether Biden was a good president is debated and depends on which issues a person prioritizes.
3wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Having completed his single term in January 2025—following his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race—his presidency is viewed through two very different lenses by historians, political analysts, and the public.”
background, reference entry, neutral. Claim: Biden completed his single term in January 2025 after withdrawing from the 2024 race.
4facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “Having completed his single term in January 2025—following his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race—his presidency is viewed through two very different lenses by historians, political analysts, and the public. While academic presidential historians often rank Biden quite highly for his substantial…”
background, other, neutral. Claim: His presidency is viewed through two very different lenses by historians, analysts, and the public.
5youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “While academic presidential historians often rank Biden quite highly for his substantial legislative achievements (placing him 14th overall in a major 2024 survey), contemporary public opinion of his performance was far more critical, with his approval ratings hovering around 39% as he left office.”
statistic, social or video, points to yes. Claim: Presidential historians ranked Biden 14th overall in a major 2024 survey.
6apnorc.orgAcademic
apnorc.org
Backs: “While academic presidential historians often rank Biden quite highly for his substantial legislative achievements (placing him 14th overall in a major 2024 survey), contemporary public opinion of his performance was far more critical, with his approval ratings hovering around 39% as he left office. An overview of the…”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Biden's approval ratings hovered around 39% as he left office, showing more critical public opinion.
7democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “Supporters and historians who rate Biden's presidency favorably point to several key achievements, particularly in domestic legislation, economic recovery, and international alliances. Major Legislative Achievements: Despite working with a highly polarized and narrowly divided Congress, Biden signed several historic,…”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Supporters and historians rate Biden's presidency favorably for domestic legislation, economic recovery, and international alliances.
8millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Supporters and historians who rate Biden's presidency favorably point to several key achievements, particularly in domestic legislation, economic recovery, and international alliances. Major Legislative Achievements: Despite working with a highly polarized and narrowly divided Congress, Biden signed several historic,…”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Supporters and historians rate Biden's presidency favorably for domestic legislation, economic recovery, and international alliances.
9noahpinion.blogBlogs and newsletters
noahpinion.blog
Backs: “COVID-19 Management: Entering office at a peak of the pandemic, his administration established a structured national vaccine distribution plan, restored public health guidance based on scientific consensus, and passed the American Rescue Plan to provide direct financial relief to families and local governments.…”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Biden's administration set up a national vaccine distribution plan, restored science-based guidance, and passed the American Rescue Plan for relief.