Was Joe Biden a good president?

A good president is judged differently by everyone — I'll gather a balanced look at Biden's record, rankings and public opinion.

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is subjective and depends on how different achievements and failures are weighed, but his 2021-2025 presidency is generally described as consequential and mixed.

Major Legislative and Policy Accomplishments

Supporters point to significant legislation passed despite narrow majorities in Congress:

•The first major legislation signed was the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a stimulus bill that included expanded unemployment insurance and $1,400 stimulus checks

•He signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a ten-year plan to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and broadband

•In August 2022 he signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which included federal investment in climate and clean energy, tax credits for solar panels and electric cars, extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, an insulin price cap, and a provision allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices

•Other legislation included the Respect for Marriage Act which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and codified same-sex and interracial marriage, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun control law in nearly three decades, the CHIPS and Science Act bolstering the semiconductor industry, and the Honoring our PACT Act expanding health care for veterans

Analysts note that despite narrow partisan margins he secured major pieces of legislation — the pandemic relief bill, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act — that were aimed at reviving the economy, repatriating supply chains, and making the largest US investment ever in clean energy and climate action

He also appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court — the first Black woman to serve on the court

Economy and Foreign Policy

The White House oversaw what is described as the strongest economic recovery of any G7 nation post COVID-19, breaking a 70-year record for low unemployment and the creation of over 16 million new jobs, the most of any single term president

On foreign policy, the stated goal was to restore the U.S. to a "position of trusted leadership" among democracies to address challenges from Russia and China. Actions included signing AUKUS with Australia and the United Kingdom, supporting expansion of NATO with Finland and Sweden, and responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions and providing over $100 billion in combined military, economic and humanitarian aid. A Council on Foreign Relations assessment argued he restored the U.S. as the anchor of the free world while leading efforts to help Ukraine defend itself and that NATO is now stronger with two-thirds of members meeting the 2% GDP defense spending benchmark.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critics point to several issues:

•Biden began his term with over 50% approval ratings, but these fell significantly after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which drew bipartisan criticism after the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban seized control

•Approval remained low as the country experienced high inflation and rising gas prices. Gallup noted rising inflation, record-high numbers of unauthorized border crossings, and international challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East kept his ratings in the low 40s or high 30s

•Main criticisms cited include concerns about inflation, border security and immigration policies, handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, and perceptions of ineffective leadership

•His age and mental fitness were a frequent subject of discussion throughout his presidency, culminating in his decision to withdraw his bid for re-election in the 2024 election

•Even supportive assessments acknowledge failures including inflation that caused genuine hardship, a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, a politically disastrous re-election campaign, and a Gaza policy that contradicted his own stated values

On immigration, patrols encountered some 2.2 million migrants crossing the southern border illegally in 2022, an all-time high, after initial efforts to rebuild a more humane immigration system.

Public Opinion and Historian Rankings

Public approval was historically low:

•Biden averaged 42.2% job approval during his four years, the second lowest in Gallup polling history. His average for the term was just one point higher than Donald Trump, who holds the record low

•His 13th-quarter average of 38.7% ranked near the bottom historically (277th of 314 presidential quarters)

•Gallup noted his approval dropped to 43% in September 2021 shortly after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and hit a low of 36% in July 2024 after his poor debate performance

Academic assessments differ from public polls. A February 2024 American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Biden as the 14th-greatest president, with one report noting President Biden was ranked 14th best while former President Donald Trump was ranked last.

Summary Evaluation

One synthesis describes the record as combining substantive policy accomplishments — in infrastructure, industry policy, drug pricing, social supports and judicial appointments — with glaring failures and political liabilities in Afghanistan, inflation control, border politics, and messaging.

Therefore, supporters tend to emphasize legislative wins, alliance restoration, and job creation, while critics emphasize inflation, border management, the Afghanistan exit, and low public approval. Historian rankings have been more favorable than contemporary public polling, suggesting retrospective evaluation may evolve over time.

Citations (3)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
Presidency of Joe Biden - Wikipedia
Backs: “Major Legislative and Policy Accomplishments. Supporters point to significant legislation passed despite narrow majorities in Congress: The first major legislation signed was the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a stimulus bill that included expanded unemployment insurance and $1,400 stimulus checks”
2cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Biden’s Legacy: Major Accomplishments but Unfinished Business | Council on Foreign Relations
Backs: “Other legislation included the Respect for Marriage Act which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and codified same-sex and interracial marriage, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun control law in nearly three decades, the CHIPS and Science Act bolstering the semiconductor industry, and…”
3gallup.comCompanies
Biden Job Approval Second Lowest Among Post-WWII Presidents
Backs: “Biden began his term with over 50% approval ratings, but these fell significantly after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which drew bipartisan criticism after the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban seized control. Approval remained low as the country experienced high inflation and rising gas prices. Gallup…”