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 single term (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual’s political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views.

Historians, political analysts, and the public generally divide their assessments of his legacy into significant domestic achievements on one hand, and notable economic, foreign policy, and political challenges on the other.

Key Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (The Successes)

Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was one of the most productive legislative presidents in modern American history, successfully navigating a deeply divided Congress to pass historic bills.

•Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite holding only a razor-thin majority in Congress, Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law:

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

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1.2 trillion bipartisan package aimed at rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): A bipartisan law to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): A major climate and healthcare bill that marked the largest federal investment in green energy in U.S. history, while allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022): The first major piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades.

•Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under his watch, the U.S. economy recovered rapidly from the COVID-19 pandemic recession. Unemployment reached historic lows (hovering around 3.5% to 4% for much of his term), and the country experienced a boom in domestic manufacturing.

•Rebuilding Alliances: In foreign policy, Biden moved away from the "America First" isolationism of his predecessor, repairing ties with traditional European and Asian allies, strengthening NATO, and leading a unified global coalition to support Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Return to Political Norms: Supporters praise Biden for restoring a sense of stability, decorum, and conventional governance to the White House following the polarization and chaos surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot.

Key Criticisms of His Presidency (The Failures)

Critics, including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats, argue that Biden’s policies led to economic instability, foreign crises, and a weakened political landscape.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: The most persistent criticism of Biden’s presidency was the surge in inflation, which reached a 40-year high 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, housing, and gas, erasing wage gains for many average Americans.

•The Southern Border and Immigration: Biden faced heavy criticism from both Republicans and local Democratic leaders over his handling of the U.S.–Mexico border. A historic surge in migrant crossings strained resources in border states and major metropolitan areas, leading critics to call his border policies weak and ineffective.

•Foreign Policy Setbacks:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic and deadly U.S. military exit from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power, severely damaged his public approval ratings and foreign policy standing early in his term.

•The Middle East: His steadfast support of Israel during the war in Gaza alienated progressives and Arab-American voters who felt his administration did not do enough to protect Palestinian civilians, while conservative critics argued his foreign policy projection of "strength" failed to deter global conflicts.

•Age, Re-election Campaign, and Political Legacy: Having run in 2020 as a "bridge" president to the next generation of leadership, Biden’s decision to run for re-election in 2024 at his advanced age became a major point of criticism. Following a highly criticized debate performance in June 2024, pressure from his own party forced him to withdraw from the race in July. Critics argue his delay in stepping aside left Democrats with little time to mount a successful campaign, ultimately paving the way for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in the 2024 election.

Conclusion

How Joe Biden is remembered depends largely on which metrics are prioritized:

•Those who view him favorably point to his historic legislative record, his stewardship of a booming post-pandemic job market, and his efforts to defend global democracy.

•Those who view him unfavorably focus on the painful cost-of-living increases during his term, the border crisis, foreign policy disruptions, and a political exit that ended in the defeat of his party.

Citations (6)

1washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Evaluations of his single term (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual’s political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views. Historians, political analysts, and the public generally divide their assessments of his legacy into significant domestic achievements on one hand, and notable…”
2millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Evaluations of his single term (2021–2025) vary widely depending on an individual’s political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views. Historians, political analysts, and the public generally divide their assessments of his legacy into significant domestic achievements on one hand, and notable…”
3cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was one of the most productive legislative presidents in modern American history, successfully navigating a deeply divided Congress to pass historic bills. Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite holding only a razor-thin majority in Congress, Biden signed several landmark…”
4time.comNews and mediaquality 0.83
time.com
Backs: “Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite holding only a razor-thin majority in Congress, Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct stimulus checks to Americans, and expanded the…”
5unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “Unemployment reached historic lows (hovering around 3.5% to 4% for much of his term), and the country experienced a boom in domestic manufacturing. Rebuilding Alliances: In foreign policy, Biden moved away from the "America First" isolationism of his predecessor, repairing ties with traditional European and Asian…”
6wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Following a highly criticized debate performance in June 2024, pressure from his own party forced him to withdraw from the race in July. Critics argue his delay in stepping aside left Democrats with little time to mount a successful campaign, ultimately paving the way for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in the…”