Was Joe Biden a good president?

Was Biden a good president? I'll gather a balanced look at his record — accomplishments, criticisms and how historians and polls rank him.

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is subjective and depends on what criteria you use - but his record can be assessed by achievements, public opinion, and historian evaluations:

The Case That He Was Effective

Supporters and some analysts describe his presidency as one of "remarkable accomplishment" given the context of navigating a fractured nation and world.

Major legislative achievements despite narrow congressional margins include:

Those laws are credited with helping to revive an economy distressed by the pandemic and putting the nation on a path of sustainable growth.

On foreign policy:

Early in his term, the administration also was credited with an effective response to the COVID pandemic and passing the most significant climate legislation in US history, and initially accruing a substantial governing record from inauguration to the 2022 midterms.

Historians have ranked him relatively highly:

The Case That He Struggled

Critics point to several major challenges that hurt his standing:

1. Low public approval and legacy polling:

Approval was highly partisan: Democrats (72%) were far more likely than independents (23%) and Republicans (8%) to approve. Half of Democrats said Biden was great or good, compared with only 10% of independents and 4% of Republicans, while 82% of Republicans viewed him as poor or terrible.

2. Economy and inflation:
Despite what some outlets called a sterling economic record with job growth, inflation and its burden on households, particularly lower-income households, dwarfed other good that happened on his watch. The Council on Foreign Relations notes his efforts to get more resources into the economy were blocked by Congress in part due to concerns about inflation and mounting debt.

3. Afghanistan:
During the withdrawal, Biden's approval ratings plunged and remained negative ever since. The withdrawal itself was called the right decision by some, but the chaos and deaths of 13 service members drew criticism.

4. Immigration:
Patrols encountered some 2.2 million migrants crossing the southern border illegally in 2022, an all-time high. He initially increased refugee quotas and aimed to rebuild a humane system, but was forced to pivot to more stringent measures as pressure mounted within his own party from mayors struggling to provide shelter.

5. Age and 2024 campaign:
His decision to debate Trump early in 2024 to cement his position as Democratic nominee is described as one of the worst campaign decisions in history, with a languid showing that spooked supporters and reinforced concerns he was too old to serve a further term. His ambition to be a bridge between generations was judged to have been hazy and used against him.

Bottom Line

Whether that adds up to "good" often depends on which of those measures — policy accomplishments, economic experience, foreign policy, or political leadership — you prioritize most.