Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a complex and subjective question, with assessments differing sharply depending on political perspectives, economic priorities, and foreign policy viewpoints.

Historians and the general public often view his single-term presidency (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) through very different lenses. On one hand, presidential historians have ranked him highly for his major legislative achievements. On the other hand, his public approval ratings remained persistently low (hovering around 40% for the latter half of his term), largely driven by concerns over inflation, border security, and his age.

The primary arguments for and against the success of his presidency highlight these contrasting perspectives:

The Case for a Successful Presidency (The "Pros")

Supporters and many presidential scholars argue that Biden was a highly consequential president who achieved historic domestic goals, navigated the aftermath of a global pandemic, and restored international alliances.

•Significant Legislative Achievements: Despite holding razor-thin majorities in Congress, Biden passed several massive, transformative pieces of legislation—many with bipartisan support:

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A historic $1.2 trillion investment in roads, bridges, public transit, clean water, and high-speed internet.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): The largest federal investment in green energy and climate change mitigation in U.S. history, which also capped insulin and prescription drug costs for seniors.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: A major push to bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States.

•The PACT Act: A significant expansion of healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

•Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: Biden oversaw a rapid economic recovery following the COVID-19 recession. During his term, the U.S. experienced record job growth, historically low unemployment rates (often below 4%), and a faster GDP recovery than almost any other developed nation.

•Strengthening Global Alliances: Following the "America First" foreign policy of his predecessor, Biden focused on repairing relations with traditional allies. He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, bolstered NATO in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and established the AUKUS security pact in the Indo-Pacific.

•Judicial Appointments and Diversity: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and appointed record numbers of diverse federal judges.

The Case for an Unsuccessful Presidency (The "Cons")

Critics—including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats—argue that his policies exacerbated economic pain, fell short on key foreign crises, and left the country deeply polarized.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: Although the job market was strong, high inflation (which peaked at a 40-year high of 9.1% in mid-2022 and averaged 5.4% over his term) severely eroded Americans' purchasing power. Critics attribute this inflation to his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. The resulting high interest rates and cost of living became the primary driver of public dissatisfaction.

•Foreign Policy Failures and Crises:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic and tragic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban. This event marked a permanent turning point in his public approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered.

•The Israel-Hamas War: Biden’s handling of the conflict alienated many in his own party. Progressives and younger voters criticized him for providing unconditional military support to Israel despite mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, while conservatives argued he did not stand firmly enough with a key ally.

•Border Security and Immigration: His administration struggled to manage record-high numbers of migrant crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border. Critics accused him of being slow to implement stricter border enforcement, which put immense logistical and financial strain on both border states and major northern cities.

•Political and Health Concerns: Biden campaigned as a "bridge" to the next generation of leadership, but his initial decision to seek a second term at an advanced age drew heavy criticism. Following a poor debate performance in June 2024 that raised intense public concern over his cognitive fitness, he withdrew from the race under immense party pressure. Critics and some Democrats argue that his delayed exit prevented a competitive primary, contributing to the Democratic party's loss in the 2024 presidential election.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Joe Biden’s legacy is often characterized as a "tale of two presidencies."

To his supporters, he was a highly effective, transformative leader who successfully guided the country through a once-in-a-century pandemic, enacted generation-defining infrastructure and climate laws, and stood up for global democracy. To his critics, he was a weak leader whose economic policies fueled painful inflation, whose foreign policy was marked by global instability, and whose physical and cognitive decline overshadowed his legislative record.

Citations (10)

1unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a complex and subjective question, with assessments differing sharply depending on political perspectives, economic priorities, and foreign policy viewpoints.”
2washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a complex and subjective question, with assessments differing sharply depending on political perspectives, economic priorities, and foreign policy viewpoints.”
3port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Historians and the general public often view his single-term presidency (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) through very different lenses. On one hand, presidential historians have ranked him highly for his major legislative achievements.”
4uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “Historians and the general public often view his single-term presidency (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) through very different lenses. On one hand, presidential historians have ranked him highly for his major legislative achievements.”
5facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “On one hand, presidential historians have ranked him highly for his major legislative achievements. On the other hand, his public approval ratings remained persistently low (hovering around 40% for the latter half of his term), largely driven by concerns over inflation, border security, and his age.”
6gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “On the other hand, his public approval ratings remained persistently low (hovering around 40% for the latter half of his term), largely driven by concerns over inflation, border security, and his age.”
7cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
cbsnews.com
Backs: “On the other hand, his public approval ratings remained persistently low (hovering around 40% for the latter half of his term), largely driven by concerns over inflation, border security, and his age.”
8cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters and many presidential scholars argue that Biden was a highly consequential president who achieved historic domestic goals, navigated the aftermath of a global pandemic, and restored international alliances.”
9pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
pewresearch.org
Backs: “Critics—including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats—argue that his policies exacerbated economic pain, fell short on key foreign crises, and left the country deeply polarized. Inflation and Cost of Living: Although the job market was strong, high inflation (which peaked at a 40-year high of…”
10hoover.orgNonprofits and think tanks
hoover.org
Backs: “Political and Health Concerns: Biden campaigned as a "bridge" to the next generation of leadership, but his initial decision to seek a second term at an advanced age drew heavy criticism. Following a poor debate performance in June 2024 that raised intense public concern over his cognitive fitness, he withdrew from…”