Was Joe Biden a good president?

Assessing the presidency of Joe Biden (who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025) yields a wide range of opinions. Whether his presidency is viewed as "good" depends heavily on an individual's political priorities, economic philosophy, and views on foreign policy.

Historians, political scientists, and the public generally evaluate his legacy through a mix of significant legislative achievements and notable challenges.

Arguments that Joe Biden was a "good" president (The Accomplishments)

Supporters argue that Biden was a highly effective, consequential president who stabilized the nation during a period of crisis and enacted some of the most significant domestic legislation in decades. Key points in this view include:

•Major Legislative Successes: Despite thin congressional majorities, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and partisan bills into law:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct stimulus checks, and temporarily cut child poverty.

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): A $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, clean water systems, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in fighting climate change in U.S. history, alongside provisions allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping insulin costs for seniors.

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

•Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. economy experienced a rapid post-pandemic recovery. Unemployment fell to historic lows, and his administration saw record-breaking job creation, particularly in manufacturing and green energy.

•Rebuilding Alliances: In foreign policy, Biden moved to restore traditional international alliances after the "America First" era of Donald Trump. He strengthened NATO, rallied a global coalition to support Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, and deepened Indo-Pacific security partnerships (like AUKUS) to counter Chinese influence.

•Judicial and Diverse Appointments: Biden fulfilled a campaign promise by appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. He also appointed a record number of diverse federal judges, many with backgrounds as public defenders and civil rights lawyers.

•A "Transition" Figure: Supporters view his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race in July 2024—paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run—as a selfless act of patriotism aimed at prioritizing the democratic process and party unity.

Arguments that Joe Biden was not a "good" president (The Criticisms)

Critics, including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats, argue that Biden’s policies worsened economic conditions at home and weakened America’s standing abroad. Key points in this view include:

•Inflation and Cost of Living: Biden’s presidency was heavily defined by high inflation, which reached a 40-year peak in 2022. Critics argue that his massive spending packages, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and drove up the cost of groceries, gas, rent, and interest rates, squeezing middle-class families.

•Border Security and Immigration: One of the most persistent vulnerabilities of his administration was the U.S.-Mexico border. Critics pointed to record-high numbers of migrant crossings as evidence of a failure to enforce immigration laws, arguing that the administration's initial rollback of some Trump-era border policies fueled the crisis.

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic and deadly U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was widely criticized. The deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power severely damaged Biden's public approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered.

•Global Instability: Critics argue that Biden’s foreign policy failed to deter global aggression, pointing to the outbreak of major conflicts during his term, including the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. His administration's handling of the Gaza conflict also alienated progressives, young voters, and Arab-American communities who opposed U.S. military aid to Israel.

•Age, Communication, and Leadership: As the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, Biden’s age and physical stamina were constant points of public concern. Critics argued that his public appearances and debates raised serious doubts about his capacity to lead, culminating in his withdrawal from the 2024 election following a widely criticized debate performance.

Conclusion

In the eyes of his supporters, Joe Biden was a steady, deeply experienced leader who guided the country out of a global pandemic, rebuilt American alliances, and passed transformational domestic legislation. In the eyes of his detractors, he was an unpopular leader whose economic policies caused inflation, whose border policies faltered, and whose foreign policy coincided with heightened global instability.

Ultimately, his legacy will continue to be debated by historians as the long-term impacts of his legislative achievements and his political decisions become clearer over time.

Citations (6)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Assessing the presidency of Joe Biden (who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025) yields a wide range of opinions.”
2noahpinion.blogBlogs and newsletters
noahpinion.blog
Backs: “The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.”
3port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. economy experienced a rapid post-pandemic recovery.”
4cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Rebuilding Alliances: In foreign policy, Biden moved to restore traditional international alliances after the "America First" era of Donald Trump.”
5worldmapper.orgNot yet classified
worldmapper.org
Backs: “A "Transition" Figure: Supporters view his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race in July 2024—paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to run—as a selfless act of patriotism aimed at prioritizing the democratic process and party unity.”
6britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Critics argued that his public appearances and debates raised serious doubts about his capacity to lead, culminating in his withdrawal from the 2024 election following a widely criticized debate performance. ---. Conclusion”