Was Joe Biden a good president?

Evaluating whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends largely on the criteria used to measure his legacy. While historians and political scholars generally view his presidency (2021–2025) as highly consequential, the general public and political opponents often hold a much more critical view, particularly regarding his handling of the economy and immigration.

At the end of his term in January 2025, there was a stark contrast between his scholarly rankings and his public approval ratings. Below is an overview of the arguments from his supporters, his critics, and where he stands in historical context.

The Case for a "Good" Presidency (Achievements and Strengths)

Supporters and many presidential historians argue that Biden’s single term was highly productive, marked by significant legislative victories and a return to institutional stability.

•Major Legislative Legacy: Working with narrow congressional majorities, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and major pieces of legislation into law:

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law): A $1.2 trillion investment in roads, bridges, public transit, clean water, and broadband.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: A major push to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research.

•The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest federal investment in fighting climate change and transition to clean energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•The PACT Act: Expansive healthcare coverage for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

•Economic Recovery: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy experienced one of the strongest job recoveries in history. Under Biden, the unemployment rate reached historic lows, and the economy added over 15 million jobs.

•Rebuilding International Alliances: Following the "America First" foreign policy of the previous administration, Biden worked to strengthen traditional alliances. Most notably, he led the global response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, rallying NATO and providing critical military and financial aid to Ukraine.

•Restoring Norms: Supporters praise Biden for restoring a sense of traditional governing norms, decorum, and stability to the White House following the turbulent transition of 2021.

The Case Against (Criticisms and Challenges)

Critics, primarily Republicans and a significant portion of the public, argue that his policies worsened domestic struggles and weakened the U.S. position globally.

•Inflation and High Cost of Living: The defining domestic struggle of Biden's presidency was inflation, which reached a 40-year peak of 9.1% in the summer of 2022. Critics blamed the inflation crisis on his administration's massive stimulus spending, such as the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Although inflation eventually cooled, the high cost of groceries, housing, and everyday goods remained a major source of public dissatisfaction throughout his term.

•Border Security and Immigration: Biden’s administration saw record-high numbers of migrant crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border. Critics accused him of being weak on border enforcement and reversing effective policies, making immigration one of his lowest-rated issues.

•Foreign Policy Failures:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic August 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan—which led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban—was widely condemned as a massive logistical and humanitarian failure.

•Global Instability: Opponents argue that Biden's foreign policy failed to deter global conflicts, pointing to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. He also faced intense criticism from progressives and young voters for his steadfast military support of Israel during the war in Gaza.

•Age, Health, and Political Exit: As the oldest president in U.S. history, concerns about his cognitive and physical stamina cast a shadow over much of his term. Following a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, pressure from within his own party led him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race in July, marking a tumultuous and abrupt end to his political career.

How Historians and the Public View His Legacy

Because of these conflicting assessments, Biden's standing differs dramatically depending on who is asked:

•Scholarly Consensus: In academic surveys of historians and political scientists, Biden has been ranked highly. For example, the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey ranked Biden 14th out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third of all chief executives. Scholars praised his significant legislative output, defense of democratic institutions, and post-pandemic leadership.

•Public Opinion: In contrast to his high standing among scholars, Biden’s public approval ratings were low for the final three years of his presidency. At the time he left office in January 2025, his average approval rating was around 36% to 42%, reflecting broad voter frustration with inflation, immigration, and global conflicts.

Ultimately, supporters view Joe Biden as a consequential president who successfully guided the country out of a global pandemic, enacted generational legislation, and protected democratic norms. Critics see him as an ineffective leader whose policies sparked severe inflation, left the southern border insecure, and oversaw a period of heightened global instability.

Citations (9)

1britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “While historians and political scholars generally view his presidency (2021–2025) as highly consequential, the general public and political opponents often hold a much more critical view, particularly regarding his handling of the economy and immigration.”
2ssrs.comNot yet classified
ssrs.com
Backs: “While historians and political scholars generally view his presidency (2021–2025) as highly consequential, the general public and political opponents often hold a much more critical view, particularly regarding his handling of the economy and immigration.”
3gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “At the end of his term in January 2025, there was a stark contrast between his scholarly rankings and his public approval ratings. Below is an overview of the arguments from his supporters, his critics, and where he stands in historical context.”
4latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “At the end of his term in January 2025, there was a stark contrast between his scholarly rankings and his public approval ratings. Below is an overview of the arguments from his supporters, his critics, and where he stands in historical context.”
5uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential historians argue that Biden’s single term was highly productive, marked by significant legislative victories and a return to institutional stability. Major Legislative Legacy: Working with narrow congressional majorities, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and major pieces of…”
6miamidadedems.orgNot yet classified
miamidadedems.org
Backs: “The CHIPS and Science Act: A major push to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research. The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest federal investment in fighting climate change and transition to clean energy in U.S.”
7wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Economic Recovery: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy experienced one of the strongest job recoveries in history. Under Biden, the unemployment rate reached historic lows, and the economy added over 15 million jobs.”
8cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
cbsnews.com
Backs: “Critics, primarily Republicans and a significant portion of the public, argue that his policies worsened domestic struggles and weakened the U.S. position globally. Inflation and High Cost of Living: The defining domestic struggle of Biden's presidency was inflation, which reached a 40-year peak of 9.1% in the summer…”
9activote.netNot yet classified
activote.net
Backs: “At the time he left office in January 2025, his average approval rating was around 36% to 42%, reflecting broad voter frustration with inflation, immigration, and global conflicts. Ultimately, supporters view Joe Biden as a consequential president who successfully guided the country out of a global pandemic, enacted…”