Was Joe Biden a good president?

No objective yes/no answer exists—evaluations of any president are subjective, depending on one’s priorities (economy, foreign policy, social issues, immigration, etc.), values, and partisanship. Joe Biden (2021–2025) was a consequential one-term president whose record includes significant legislative achievements and a strong post-COVID economic recovery on many metrics, alongside major failures or controversies on inflation’s impact, the border, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and perceptions of his age/fitness. He left office with historically low average approval and after Democrats lost the 2024 election.[1]

Economic Record

Biden inherited a pandemic-distressed economy. Key outcomes included:

Major caveat: inflation. It peaked at 9.1% in mid-2022 (highest in ~40 years), with cumulative consumer price increases of ~19–20%+ over the term. This eroded purchasing power, hit lower- and middle-income households hard on food/energy/housing, and dominated public perception despite later cooling (to ~2–3% range). Causes included pandemic supply shocks, stimulus spending (American Rescue Plan), energy issues, and the Ukraine war—debated endlessly—but it was a political liability.[4]

Comparisons to Trump’s first term are complicated by COVID (which cratered 2020 metrics under Trump). Biden’s job/GDP numbers look strong in recovery context; inflation was far higher.

Major Legislation and Domestic Policy

Despite narrow congressional margins, Biden secured big bills:

Other notes: rejoined Paris climate accord and advanced emissions goals; expanded ACA enrollment/healthcare access; student debt relief (~$180 billion for millions, though larger plans were blocked by courts); gun safety measures (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act); PACT Act for veterans; judicial appointments including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.[6]

Unfinished or failed items included broader Build Back Better social spending, federal abortion codification post-Dobbs, and comprehensive immigration reform.

Foreign Policy

Successes: Strong support for Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion (tens of billions in aid, intelligence, coordination), which helped Ukraine hold most territory and avoided direct U.S.-Russia war. NATO strengthened (more members meeting spending targets; Finland and Sweden joined). Alliance-building in Europe/Asia; managed China competition with tech export controls, AUKUS, etc., while restoring some dialogue; ended the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan (longest U.S. war).[5]

Failures/criticisms: The 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal was chaotic—rapid Taliban takeover, deadly Abbey Gate bombing (13 U.S. service members killed), stranded allies, damaged U.S. credibility, and left Afghanistan as a potential terrorist haven. Planning and execution drew bipartisan and military criticism (though Trump’s Doha deal set the stage).[7] On Israel-Hamas (post-Oct 7, 2023), firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself came with criticism over Gaza civilian casualties/humanitarian crisis and limited leverage for ceasefires. Iran’s nuclear progress and North Korea advances continued; China military buildup persisted. Risk-aversion on escalation was praised by some and criticized by others as too slow/incremental on Ukraine aid.[8]

Immigration and Border

Encounters at the southwest border hit record highs (millions annually 2021–2023; cumulative encounters often cited in the 8–10+ million range since FY2021, including repeats). This strained cities, resources, and politics, becoming a top voter concern. Later executive asylum restrictions (2024) and other measures reduced crossings significantly. Legal immigration/refugee resettlement and naturalizations rose; interior enforcement priorities shifted. Critics called it a crisis of non-enforcement; supporters noted global migration pressures, Title 42 expulsions earlier, and congressional inaction.[9]

Approval, Politics, and Legacy Perceptions

Gallup average approval ~42% (second-lowest post-WWII after Trump), starting higher (~50s) and settling in the high 30s–low 40s, ending ~40%. Extreme polarization.[1] He dropped his 2024 reelection bid after a poor debate performance amid age/cognitive concerns (he was the oldest president).

Early historian surveys (e.g., 2024) ranked him around 14th all-time—respectable, ahead of Reagan in one poll, far above Trump (often last)—crediting legislative output, COVID exit, and restoring norms, though later assessments note political failures to sell achievements and the overshadowing issues.[10] Public views split sharply by party; many felt the economy “wasn’t good” despite stats due to inflation, and border/Afghanistan loomed large.

Bottom line: Biden delivered major infrastructure/climate/industrial policy wins, a robust labor market recovery, and effective (if incomplete) great-power alliance responses. These are durable in some cases. However, high inflation’s pain, the border surge, the botched Afghanistan exit, Middle East frustrations, rising debt, and questions about his capacity defined the political narrative for many Americans, contributing to Democratic losses. Whether that makes him “good” hinges on what you weigh most—policy outputs and metrics vs. lived experience, execution, and electoral results. History’s verdict will evolve with more distance and data on long-term effects (e.g., IRA investments, Ukraine outcome).