Was Joe Biden a good president?

A balanced look at Biden's presidency — I'll pull historians' rankings, key achievements, and approval data to weigh both sides.

Was Joe Biden a good president is a subjective question, and assessments differ sharply by political perspective and by what criteria are used. Here is a balanced overview of his record as 46th president from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025:

What supporters point to

Major legislation:

•Signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that temporarily established expanded unemployment insurance and sent $1,400 stimulus checks in response to COVID-19

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

•Signed the CHIPS and Science Act, bolstering the semiconductor and manufacturing industry

•Proposed the Build Back Better Act, part of which was incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. The Inflation Reduction Act included significant federal investment in climate and domestic clean energy, tax credits for solar panels and electric cars, a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, an insulin price cap, and a provision allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices

Other domestic actions often cited include the PACT Act expanding health care for veterans, the Respect for Marriage Act, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on gun control, and the Electoral Count Reform Act.

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

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

Foreign policy: As president he reentered the Paris Agreement, signed AUKUS with Australia and the United Kingdom, supported expansion of NATO with Finland and Sweden, and responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia and providing Ukraine with over $100 billion in combined military, economic, and humanitarian aid.

What critics point to

Approval and public perception: Biden began his term with over 50% approval ratings; these fell significantly after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and remained low as the country experienced high inflation and rising gas prices.

Polling during his term showed his approval close to the lowest level of his presidency amid criticism from Republicans, and at one point tumbling below 50 percent for the first time amid criticism over the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Inflation peaking at 9.1% and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal were described as the primary drags on his approval throughout his term.

Other frequent criticisms included:

•The chaotic exit from Afghanistan, after which the Taliban swiftly retook control, leading to bipartisan criticism

•The ongoing immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border and high cost of everyday goods

•During Biden's time in office, median wages stagnated

Age and health: Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted throughout his presidency. His age and mental fitness were a frequent subject of discussion throughout his presidency, ultimately culminating in his decision to withdraw his bid for re-election in the 2024 presidential election after his performance in the first presidential debate intensified scrutiny.

How historians and polls have rated him

•A February 2024 American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Biden as the 14th-greatest president, placing him ahead of figures such as Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan and diverging from public assessments.

•Pollsters noted that ranking was unusually high for a presidency without military victories or institutional expansion.

•The text also notes that although some political scientists and historians have rated Biden's presidency favorably, his political legacy is interwoven with the re-election of Donald Trump in 2024.

In public opinion at the end of his term, polling was more negative than the historians' ranking, with majorities disapproving of his handling of immigration, the economy, foreign affairs, and other issues in several national surveys.

Whether that record is considered "good" largely depends on how you weigh legislative achievements and job growth and alliance restoration against concerns about inflation, the border, Afghanistan, and age-related fitness for office.

Citations (2)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
Joe Biden - Wikipedia
Backs: “Was Joe Biden a good president is a subjective question, and assessments differ sharply by political perspective and by what criteria are used.”
2wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
Presidency of Joe Biden
Backs: “Here is a balanced overview of his record as 46th president from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025: What supporters point to. Major legislation: Signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that temporarily established expanded unemployment insurance and sent $1,400 stimulus checks in…”