Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a highly debated question with no single consensus. Evaluations of his presidency (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual's political beliefs, economic circumstances, and foreign policy priorities.

The primary arguments from both his supporters and his critics highlight the different perspectives on his term in office:

Arguments That He Was a Successful President (The Supporters' Perspective)

Supporters argue that Biden was a highly effective leader who steered the country through a turbulent post-pandemic era, passed historic legislation, and restored traditional international alliances.

•Major Legislative Wins: Biden signed several landmark, long-term legislative packages, many with bipartisan support:

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, clean water systems, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in history targeting climate change and green energy, while also capping insulin costs at $35 a month for seniors and allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•The PACT Act (2022): Expanded healthcare and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

•Strong Job Growth: Under his watch, the U.S. experienced a historically rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate fell to historic lows (hovering under 4% for an extended period), and millions of jobs were created.

•Rebuilding Global Alliances: Biden moved away from the "America First" isolationist foreign policy of his predecessor. Supporters praise his leadership in revitalizing NATO and uniting Western allies to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Judicial and Representation Milestones: Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, and filled federal courts with a highly diverse group of judges.

Arguments That He Was an Unsuccessful President (The Critics' Perspective)

Critics, including political opponents and some independent analysts, argue that Biden's presidency was defined by economic strain, border insecurity, and global instability.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: While job growth was high, critics point to the inflation crisis as the defining domestic failure of his term. Inflation reached a 40-year high of 9.1% in 2022, driving up the cost of groceries, housing, and gas. Opponents argued that massive federal spending packages, such as the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, fueled this inflation.

•Border Security and Immigration: Critics heavily faulted the administration's handling of the U.S. southern border, which saw record-high numbers of migrant crossings. Opponents argued that the administration’s early reversal of several Trump-era border policies created a humanitarian and logistical crisis that strained resources in cities across the country.

•Foreign Policy Failures and Instability:

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was widely criticized as chaotic and poorly planned. It resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, left thousands of Afghan allies behind, and allowed the Taliban to rapidly regain control.

•Global Conflict: Critics argue that the administration failed to deter international adversaries, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of war in the Middle East following Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel.

•Gaza War Divisions: Biden's steadfast military and diplomatic support for Israel alienated progressives, younger voters, and Arab-American communities, leading to mass protests and domestic political division.

•Perceptions of Leadership and Age: Concerns about Biden's age and cognitive fitness were a constant vulnerability throughout his presidency. Critics argued his public performances projected weakness on the global stage. These persistent concerns eventually led to a crisis of confidence within his own party, culminating in his decision to end his 2024 reelection campaign.

Conclusion

Ultimately, history's view of Joe Biden is complex. Supporters view him as a consequential, transformative president who passed generational investments in infrastructure, climate, and manufacturing, while restoring a sense of normalcy and coalition-building. Critics view his presidency as a period marked by a painful cost-of-living crisis, a deeply compromised southern border, and rising geopolitical instability.

Citations (5)

1infobase.comNot yet classified
infobase.com
Backs: “Evaluations of his presidency (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual's political beliefs, economic circumstances, and foreign policy priorities.”
2millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Evaluations of his presidency (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual's political beliefs, economic circumstances, and foreign policy priorities.”
3wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Strong Job Growth: Under his watch, the U.S. experienced a historically rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The unemployment rate fell to historic lows (hovering under 4% for an extended period), and millions of jobs were created.”
4study.comNot yet classified
study.com
Backs: “Supporters praise his leadership in revitalizing NATO and uniting Western allies to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion. Judicial and Representation Milestones: Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, and filled federal courts with a highly diverse group of judges.”
5port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Critics, including political opponents and some independent analysts, argue that Biden's presidency was defined by economic strain, border insecurity, and global instability. Inflation and Cost of Living: While job growth was high, critics point to the inflation crisis as the defining domestic failure of his term.”