No, Joe Biden was not a good president by standard metrics of competence, results, and national interest. His term (2021–2025) featured avoidable policy failures, sharp declines in key indicators after the Trump baseline, and a pattern of prioritizing ideology, donors, and personal/family interests over effective governance. This is not a close call when measured against outcomes rather than media narratives or "firsts."
Economic Record: Inflation Tax and Stagnation After Recovery
•Pre-Biden (end of 2020): Unemployment was falling fast post-COVID lockdowns; inflation was low (~1.4% CPI). Biden inherited a vaccine rollout and V-shaped recovery already underway.
•Under Biden: Peak inflation hit 9.1% (June 2022), the highest in 40 years. Cumulative CPI rose ~20%+ from 2021–2024, eroding real wages for most workers—especially lower-income households. "Transitory" was the official line until it wasn't. Real median wages stagnated or fell after inflation for extended periods.
•Energy: Biden canceled Keystone XL on day one, restricted leasing/drilling on federal lands, and rejoined Paris while begging OPEC and Venezuela/Iran for oil. U.S. became a net exporter under Trump; prices spiked under Biden until production recovered despite policy (private producers + global factors). Gasoline averaged far higher than 2019–2020.
•Growth and jobs: Headline job numbers looked okay due to labor force rebound, but labor force participation stayed below pre-COVID peaks longer than peers, and much "growth" was government spending and immigration-driven population increase. Deficits exploded further (American Rescue Plan overheating + later bills). National debt crossed $36T. Stock market rose (as it usually does), but that is not broad prosperity.
•Housing and groceries: Affordability collapsed for first-time buyers; food-at-home prices jumped dramatically. This was the "vibecession" that polls repeatedly showed voters felt, contra elite denial.
Compare to the late Trump pre-COVID economy (record-low unemployment for Black/Hispanic workers, energy independence, real wage gains at the bottom) or even Obama's second term. Biden's team claimed credit for "Bidenomics" while voters rejected it in 2022 and 2024.
Border and Immigration: Deliberate Chaos
Encounters at the southwest border shattered records—over 10 million encounters + got-aways during the term, per CBP data. Catch-and-release, parole programs, ending Remain in Mexico, and slow-walking interior enforcement turned a manageable issue into a historic surge of illegal crossings, fentanyl, and strained cities (NYC, Chicago, Denver declared emergencies). This was policy, not "root causes" or Trump residual. Asylum claims exploded with low credible-fear grant rates in practice; vetting gaps were real. Polls showed this as a top voter concern that Democrats lost badly on.
Foreign Policy: Weakness Invites Aggression
•Afghanistan 2021: Catastrophic withdrawal against military advice—abandoned allies/Bagram, left Americans and interpreters behind, $7B+ equipment to Taliban, 13 U.S. service members killed in Abbey Gate bombing. Intelligence warned of rapid collapse; Biden insisted it was going fine. Signal of American unreliability.
•Russia-Ukraine: Biden's early "minor incursion" comment and Afghanistan debacle preceded the full invasion. Aid was substantial later, but deterrence failed initially; energy sanctions were undercut by continued European purchases and U.S. restrictions on domestic production. Nord Stream aftermath and endless escalation risks without clear endgame.
•China/Iran/Houthis: Continued fentanyl precursor flows, balloon incident, and slow response to Red Sea shipping attacks. Israel support after Oct 7 was real but paired with public pressure and leaks that complicated operations. Deterrence eroded relative to 2017–2020 "peace through strength."
•Alliances: Rhetoric of "America is back" contrasted with French submarine deal snub, endless summits, and European free-riding on energy/security.
Domestic Governance, Competence, and Trust
•COVID: Continued school closures longer than necessary in blue areas (learning loss documented by NAEP), pushed mandates/vaccine requirements that fueled distrust, while shifting goalposts. Lab-leak was dismissed as conspiracy until it wasn't.
•Crime and cities: 2020 riot damage was downplayed ("mostly peaceful"); post-2020 homicide spikes in progressive DA cities were real before partial reversals. Soft-on-crime signals mattered.
•Major bills: Infrastructure and IRA passed with some useful permitting/spending, but loaded with green industrial policy, deficits, and corporate welfare. Student loan "forgiveness" attempts were illegal executive overreach struck down. EV/union priorities often ignored consumer demand and costs.
•Cognitive and family issues: Visible decline (debates, speeches, special counsel Hur report describing poor memory) was denied by media/Democrats until the 2024 debate collapse forced the switch to Harris. Hunter Biden's influence-peddling (Burisma, China deals, laptop) involved access and money while Joe was VP and president; DOJ slow-walked and the White House stonewalled. Classified documents issues mirrored Trump's but received softer treatment initially.
•Approval: Underwater for most of the term (Gallup/RCP averages often 38–43%). 2022 midterms and 2024 election were repudiations—Trump won popular vote and swing states amid inflation/border fatigue. Democratic elites protected Biden until it became electorally impossible.
Context and Counter-Arguments
Trump left COVID, divided politics, and his own chaos (Jan 6). Biden's team passed some bipartisan infrastructure and avoided immediate recession. Vaccine distribution continued. Ukraine aid prevented quick Russian victory. But presidents own results: the inflation spike was amplified by fiscal stimulus into supply constraints; the border was a choice; Afghanistan was a choice; pretending Biden was sharp was a choice. "He beat Trump" or "not Trump" is not a positive case. Media/academic consensus often graded on a curve (ignore inflation's distributional pain, treat border numbers as weather).
Historical ranking exercises (C-SPAN, Siena) will eventually place him low-mid due to outcomes and the 2024 verdict, similar to how Carter is remembered for stagflation/Iran. Good presidents deliver rising real incomes, secure borders, deterrence, and basic competence without requiring narrative protection. Biden did not. For data, see BLS/CPI, CBP yearbooks, BEA GDP, Gallup, and primary documents rather than partisan spin.