Was Joe Biden a good president?

Was Biden a good president? I'll pull the record on his achievements, approval, and major critiques to give you a balanced answer.

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is debated and depends on what criteria and political perspective you use. Historians, polling data, and policy analysis point to a record with major legislative successes paired with major political vulnerabilities.

Legislative and Policy Record

Supporters point to several large laws passed with narrow majorities in Congress:

On the economy, the administration cites:

On foreign policy, an assessment from the Council on Foreign Relations says Biden "restored the United States as the anchor of the free world while leading the successful effort to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression". Other noted outcomes:

He also appointed roughly 235 federal judges, noted as a historic number for a single term.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critics focus on different areas. Main criticisms include "concerns about inflation, border security and immigration policies, energy policies leading to higher gas prices, handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and perceptions of ineffective leadership".

Specific issues:

Overall assessment summaries note that Biden's presidency "combined tangible policy accomplishments—massive pandemic relief, infrastructure investment, judicial appointments, drug-pricing steps and civil-rights advances—with pronounced vulnerabilities in crisis management, inflation control and immigration".

Public Opinion

Public approval was low by historical standards.

Gallup also noted that legislative wins such as "historic investments in infrastructure and climate change policy, as well as generally solid GDP growth, low unemployment and record highs in the stock market" were outweighed in voters' evaluations by economic hardships and international conflicts.

How Historians and Analysts Frame It

In short, evaluations tend to split: supporters emphasize recovery from the pandemic, large investments in infrastructure, semiconductors, and climate, and rebuilding alliances; critics emphasize high inflation, border pressures, and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, reflected in low average approval.