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 declaring a verdict, here's a balanced look at his record so you can judge for yourself:
Arguments in favor of his presidency:
•Legislative achievements: Biden signed major bills including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act (boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing), and the Inflation Reduction Act, which included significant climate spending and allowed Medicare to negotiate some drug prices.
•Economic recovery: Unemployment stayed relatively low for much of his term, and the economy avoided a widely predicted recession despite aggressive Fed rate hikes.
•COVID response: His administration oversaw widespread vaccine distribution and a return to economic normalcy after the pandemic disruption.
•Foreign policy coalition-building: He rallied NATO and Western allies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and worked to strengthen alliances in Asia (like the AUKUS pact).
•Judicial appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and confirmed many federal judges.
Common criticisms:
•Inflation: Prices rose sharply during 2021-2023, and many voters blamed his administration's spending policies (like the American Rescue Plan) for contributing to this, alongside pandemic supply-chain issues.
•Border/immigration: Illegal crossings at the southern border reached record highs during parts of his term, and his administration faced criticism from both parties on immigration policy.
•Afghanistan withdrawal: The chaotic 2021 pullout, including the Kabul airport attack that killed 13 U.S. service members, was widely seen as poorly executed.
•Age and mental acuity concerns: Questions about his age and sharpness became a major issue, especially after his widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, which ultimately contributed to him dropping out of the 2024 race.
•Israel-Gaza war: His handling of the conflict drew criticism from multiple directions—seen as too supportive of Israel by some, and not supportive enough by others.
Bottom line: Evaluations tend to split heavily along partisan lines, with Democrats generally citing his legislative record and economic recovery, while Republicans and even some Democrats point to inflation, border issues, and concerns about his fitness for office. Historians will likely need more time and distance to render a settled verdict, as is typical for recent presidents.
Would you like me to dig deeper into any particular aspect of his presidency (economy, foreign policy, judicial appointments, etc.)?