Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good president" is a matter of political opinion, and reasonable people disagree based on their values and priorities. Rather than giving you my own verdict, let me lay out the main points people cite on both sides, based on information I have.I don't think there's a single objective answer to this — it really depends on your political values and which policy areas you prioritize. But here's a factual rundown of what supporters and critics point to, based on available data.

Case for a positive assessment:

•The administration's economic performance exceeded many forecasters' expectations, especially in job creation, and Biden was the first president under whom jobs were created during every month they were in office.

•Major bipartisan legislation passed, including the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which instigated significant federal investment in national infrastructure, and the Chips and Science Act, which saw significant investment in the building of microprocessor chip plants.

•Enrollment in the Affordable Care Act nearly doubled from four years earlier, he got more federal judges confirmed than any president in a single term besides Jimmy Carter, and his steadfast support for Ukraine and NATO expansion was seen by some as heroic.

•Experts have suggested the Biden White House failed to rebuild trust between the US public and the presidency on the COVID issue, but it managed to articulate a clear, logical plan and implement an effective vaccine rollout.

•Notably, a survey of presidential experts a year earlier had ranked Biden 14th among presidents — ahead of figures like Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan — which drew surprise and skepticism at the time.

Case for a negative assessment:

•The chaotic nature of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is widely seen as one of Biden's major failures.

•Many critics argue that weak U.S. leadership and ineffective crisis management in some cases led to a loss of U.S. credibility on the global stage, with Biden's notable successes overshadowed by flawed policies, weak authority, poor decisions, and lack of planning.

•Biden's decision to run for re-election in 2024, given his physical and mental condition, is often described as his biggest mistake — a decision that caused a crisis within the Democratic Party and allowed Kamala Harris to become the nominee hastily without internal party competition.

•On public opinion, Biden averaged 42.2% job approval during his four years as president, the second lowest in Gallup polling history. Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults expect that Biden will go down in history as a below-average or poor president, while 26% say he'll be remembered as average and only 19% as outstanding or above average.

Bottom line: There's real disagreement even among historians and experts — some early rankings placed him relatively high, while public approval polling and later retrospectives have been considerably harsher, partly due to the 2024 re-election decision and foreign policy setbacks. Given the deep partisan divide reflected in these numbers, I'd encourage you to weigh the specific policies (economy, healthcare, foreign policy, immigration, judicial appointments) that matter most to you rather than looking for a single "good or bad" verdict.

Citations (11)

1theconversation.comNews and mediaquality 0.92
Joe Biden’s legacy: four successes and four failures
Source excerpt: “The administration’s economic performance exceeded many forecasters’ expectations, especially in job creation. Biden will be the first president under...”
2theconversation.comNews and mediaquality 0.92
Joe Biden’s legacy: four successes and four failures
Source excerpt: “This has been driven by significant moves such as the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which instigated significant federal investment in national...”
3cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
What might President Biden's legacy be?
Source excerpt: “Enrollment in the Affordable Care Act has nearly doubled from four years ago. Biden got more federal judges confirmed than any president in a single t...”
4port.ac.ukAcademic
joe bidens legacy four successes and four failures
Source excerpt: “His administration’s handling of the crisis and the advice given to the public was in stark contrast to the chaos of the Trump administration. Althou...”
5yahoo.comNews and mediaquality 0.69
Opinion: Experts once thought highly of Biden's presidency. Here's how his legacy is likely to change
Source excerpt: “Here's how his legacy is likely to change Our survey of presidential experts a year ago drew attention for ranking Joe Biden 14th among the presidents...”
6theconversation.comNews and mediaquality 0.92
Joe Biden’s legacy: four successes and four failures
Source excerpt: “The chaotic nature of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan will be seen as one of Biden’s failures. ”
7moderndiplomacy.euNews and media
Biden's Legacy: Achievements and Failures of a President - Modern Diplomacy
Source excerpt: “Many critics argue that weak U.S. leadership and ineffective crisis management in some cases led to a loss of U.S. credibility on the global stage. Th...”
8moderndiplomacy.euNews and media
Biden's Legacy: Achievements and Failures of a President - Modern Diplomacy
Source excerpt: “... Biden’s decision to run for re-election in 2024, given his physical and mental condition, was arguably his biggest mistake. This decision caused a...”
9gallup.comCompanies
Biden Job Approval Second Lowest Among Post-WWII Presidents
Source excerpt: “WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Joe Biden averaged 42.2% job approval during his four years as president, the second lowest in Gallup polling history. ”
10gallup.comCompanies
Presidential Approval Ratings — Gallup Historical Statistics and Trends
Source excerpt: “... Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults expect that Joe Biden will go down in history as a below-average or poor ... Do you approve or disapprove of th...”
11gallup.comCompanies
Presidential Approval Ratings — Gallup Historical Statistics and Trends
Source excerpt: “... Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults expect that Joe Biden will go down in history as a below-average or poor president, while 26% say he will be rem...”