Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of ongoing debate among historians, political scientists, and the American public. Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded recently, his overall legacy is still being evaluated.

Assessments of his term generally depend on what metrics are prioritized—such as major legislative output and defense of democratic institutions, or economic challenges like inflation and foreign policy crises.

Arguments That Joe Biden Was a Good President (His Achievements)

Supporters and many presidential historians—who ranked him 14th overall in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey—point to several key accomplishments:

•Consequential Legislative Legacy: Despite serving with incredibly thin congressional majorities, Biden signed some of the most significant domestic policy bills in modern presidential history:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks to citizens, and temporarily expanded the child tax credit.

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A historic, bipartisan $1.2 trillion investment in the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, clean water, and high-speed internet.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Billions of dollars aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in fighting climate change in U.S. history, alongside measures allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping insulin costs.

•Strong Economic Recovery Post-Pandemic: Under his administration, the U.S. economy experienced rapid job growth, historically low unemployment rates (dipping to 50-year lows), robust GDP growth, and a significant revival of domestic manufacturing.

•Restoring Alliances and Global Standing: Biden repaired traditional international alliances that had been strained. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he successfully mobilized and united NATO to support Ukrainian defense. He also focused on counterbalancing China in the Indo-Pacific through agreements like AUKUS.

•Judicial Appointments: He appointed a historic number of federal judges, prioritizing professional and demographic diversity, including Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

•Decision to Step Aside (2024): Supporters and party allies highly praised his decision in July 2024 to withdraw from the presidential campaign as a selfless, patriotic act that prioritized democratic norms and his party over personal ambition.

Arguments That Joe Biden Was a Weak or Unsuccessful President (His Criticisms)

Critics, political opponents, and many members of the general public—whose dissatisfaction was reflected in his low approval ratings—point to major crises and shortcomings:

•Inflation and Cost of Living: Biden’s term was heavily shadowed by severe inflation, which reached a 40-year peak of 9.1% in mid-2022. Critics argue that his massive spending bills, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and drove up the cost of groceries, gas, rent, and interest rates, squeezing middle-class families.

•The Southern Border Crisis: The administration faced relentless criticism for its handling of immigration. Record-breaking numbers of migrant crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border overwhelmed federal resources and heavily strained the budgets and social services of major U.S. cities, becoming a major political vulnerability.

•Foreign Policy Missteps and Instability:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic and deadly U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban, severely damaged Biden's approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered.

•Escalating Global Conflict: Critics argue that the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war showed a failure of U.S. deterrence. Furthermore, his handling of the Gaza conflict drew immense criticism from progressives and young voters who opposed his military support for Israel, while conservatives argued his policies were not strong enough.

•Age and Stamina Concerns: Entering office as the oldest president in U.S. history, Biden faced persistent doubts about his physical and cognitive fitness. These concerns culminated in a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, which ultimately forced him to exit the presidential race.

•The 2024 Election Outcome: Critics within and outside the Democratic Party suggest that the ultimate return of Donald Trump to the White House in the 2024 election was, in part, a referendum on the public’s dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's record on the economy and immigration.

Conclusion

Historians often draw a distinction between a president's legislative productivity and their public popularity. By the standards of passing landmark, transformative legislation and managing a post-pandemic recovery, many scholars rate Joe Biden as highly effective and consequential.

However, from the perspective of voters who faced the day-to-day realities of high inflation, a crisis at the southern border, and a highly unstable global landscape, his presidency is viewed much more critically. Ultimately, his legacy remains a subject of debate.

Citations (9)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded recently, his overall legacy is still being evaluated.”
2pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
pbs.org
Backs: “Because his presidency (2021–2025) concluded recently, his overall legacy is still being evaluated.”
3facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “Assessments of his term generally depend on what metrics are prioritized—such as major legislative output and defense of democratic institutions, or economic challenges like inflation and foreign policy crises.”
4youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential historians—who ranked him 14th overall in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey—point to several key accomplishments:”
5axios.comNews and mediaquality 0.90
axios.com
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential historians—who ranked him 14th overall in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey—point to several key accomplishments:”
6reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “Consequential Legislative Legacy: Despite serving with incredibly thin congressional majorities, Biden signed some of the most significant domestic policy bills in modern presidential history: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks…”
7democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “Consequential Legislative Legacy: Despite serving with incredibly thin congressional majorities, Biden signed some of the most significant domestic policy bills in modern presidential history: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks…”
8wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Decision to Step Aside (2024): Supporters and party allies highly praised his decision in July 2024 to withdraw from the presidential campaign as a selfless, patriotic act that prioritized democratic norms and his party over personal ambition. ---. Arguments That Joe Biden Was a Weak or Unsuccessful President (His…”
9facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “The 2024 Election Outcome: Critics within and outside the Democratic Party suggest that the ultimate return of Donald Trump to the White House in the 2024 election was, in part, a referendum on the public’s dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's record on the economy and immigration. ---. Conclusion”