Was Joe Biden a good president?

Evaluating whether Joe Biden’s presidency (2021–2025) was "good" is a subjective question with no single consensus. Views on his legacy are deeply polarized, depending heavily on an individual's political priorities. Supporters point to a highly consequential legislative record and a strong post-pandemic economic recovery, while critics emphasize the impact of persistent inflation, border security issues, and foreign policy challenges.

The key arguments from both perspectives outline how his presidency is viewed:

The Case for a Successful Presidency (Key Accomplishments)

Supporters and many presidential historians argue that Biden was a highly effective president who passed major, transformative legislation despite working with incredibly narrow congressional majorities.

•Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law that will shape American infrastructure and industry for decades:

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

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1.2 trillion bipartisan package to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband access.

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

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in climate change mitigation in U.S. history, which also authorized Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•Economic Performance: Under his administration, the U.S. economy experienced its strongest post-COVID-19 recovery among G7 nations. Unemployment reached historic lows, and over 15 million jobs were created during his term—the most under any single-term president.

•Restoring Institutions and Norms: Supporters praise Biden for restoring traditional political norms, returning to professional administrative practices, and lowering the temperature of national political rhetoric following the turbulent events of January 6, 2021.

•Foreign Policy Alliances: He re-engaged with international agreements (such as the Paris Climate Agreement) and revitalized the NATO alliance, leading a strong global coalition to support Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

The Case Against (Criticisms and Failures)

Critics—including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats—point to significant shortcomings in economic management, foreign policy, and domestic security.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: Although the U.S. avoided a recession, inflation surged to a 40-year high in 2022. Critics blamed Biden’s heavy legislative spending, particularly the American Rescue Plan, for overheating the economy. The resulting rise in interest rates and high prices for housing, groceries, and fuel strained many American household budgets throughout his term.

•Immigration and Border Security: Biden’s administration faced sustained criticism for its handling of the southern border. High numbers of migrant encounters and crossings overwhelmed local resources in border states and major cities, leading critics to argue his early reversals of Trump-era policies created a border crisis.

•Foreign Policy Setbacks:

•The Withdrawal from Afghanistan (2021): The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Kabul led to the rapid return of the Taliban and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. This event triggered a steep, permanent decline in Biden's public approval ratings.

•Global Instability: Critics argue that the outbreak of major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East occurred because his administration projected weakness and failed to maintain strong global deterrence.

•Age, Health, and 2024 Exit: Biden entered office as the oldest president in U.S. history. Concerns over his age and mental sharpness persisted throughout his term, culminating in a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024. This ultimately forced him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race under heavy party pressure, making him a rare modern president to serve only one term.

•Pardon of Hunter Biden: Critics also pointed to his late-presidency decision to issue a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, arguing it went back on his repeated public promises and undermined his claims to strictly uphold the rule of law.

Public and Historical Consensus

Public opinion of Biden's presidency at the end of his term was overall negative. In Gallup polls taken around the time he left office, roughly 54% of Americans predicted history would judge his presidency as "below average" or "poor," while only 19% believed it would be viewed as "outstanding" or "above average." His personal approval ratings remained in the high 30s to low 40s during his final year.

Conversely, presidential historians and political scientists have tended to rate Biden much more favorably than the general public. In academic surveys (such as the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project), experts ranked him 14th out of all U.S. presidents, placing him in the top third. Historians often separate a president's short-term unpopularity from their long-term policy impacts, noting that the long-term benefits of his infrastructure and manufacturing bills may take decades to fully materialize.

Ultimately, his legacy will likely remain divided: viewed by some as an effective domestic reformer who successfully steered the nation through a post-pandemic recovery, and by others as a weak leader whose term was defined by inflation, global instability, and a premature political exit.

Citations (9)

1latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential historians argue that Biden was a highly effective president who passed major, transformative legislation despite working with incredibly narrow congressional majorities. Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law that will shape…”
2cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential historians argue that Biden was a highly effective president who passed major, transformative legislation despite working with incredibly narrow congressional majorities. Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law that will shape…”
3livenowfox.comNot yet classified
livenowfox.com
Backs: “Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law that will shape American infrastructure and industry for decades: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks to citizens, and temporarily cut…”
4wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Major Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law that will shape American infrastructure and industry for decades: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct checks to citizens, and temporarily cut…”
5port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1.2 trillion bipartisan package to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband access. The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips and scientific research to reduce reliance on foreign…”
6millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Restoring Institutions and Norms: Supporters praise Biden for restoring traditional political norms, returning to professional administrative practices, and lowering the temperature of national political rhetoric following the turbulent events of January 6, 2021. Foreign Policy Alliances: He re-engaged with…”
7courthousenews.comNews and mediaquality 0.87
courthousenews.com
Backs: “The resulting rise in interest rates and high prices for housing, groceries, and fuel strained many American household budgets throughout his term. Immigration and Border Security: Biden’s administration faced sustained criticism for its handling of the southern border.”
8noahpinion.blogBlogs and newsletters
noahpinion.blog
Backs: “Foreign Policy Setbacks: The Withdrawal from Afghanistan (2021): The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Kabul led to the rapid return of the Taliban and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. This event triggered a steep, permanent decline in Biden's public approval ratings.”
9gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “In Gallup polls taken around the time he left office, roughly 54% of Americans predicted history would judge his presidency as "below average" or "poor," while only 19% believed it would be viewed as "outstanding" or "above average." His personal approval ratings remained in the high 30s to low 40s during his final…”