Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a matter of subjective political judgment, and people across the political spectrum disagree significantly. Rather than giving you my opinion, let me lay out the major points often cited on both sides so you can form your own view:
Arguments often made in his favor:
•Legislative accomplishments: He signed major bipartisan 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 and healthcare provisions.
•Economic recovery: The economy added millions of jobs after the COVID-19 pandemic, and unemployment reached historic lows during parts of his term.
•COVID-19 response: His administration oversaw widespread vaccine distribution after taking office.
•Foreign policy coalition-building: He rallied NATO and Western allies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and strengthened some international alliances.
•Judicial appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
Arguments often made against him:
•Inflation: The U.S. experienced the highest inflation in four decades during parts of his presidency, which hurt his approval ratings and was a major issue for voters.
•Border policy: Critics, especially Republicans, pointed to record levels of illegal border crossings as a major failure.
•Afghanistan withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, including the Kabul airport attack and the fall of the government to the Taliban, was widely criticized.
•Age and mental acuity concerns: Questions about his age and fitness for office grew throughout his term, culminating in a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024 that ultimately contributed to his decision not to seek reelection.
•Approval ratings: His approval ratings were relatively low for much of his presidency compared to historical averages.
Bottom line: Evaluations tend to split heavily along partisan lines, and even many political scientists and historians who look at longer-term historical rankings haven't had enough time/distance yet to settle on a consensus view. If you want, I can look into specific aspects of his presidency (economy, foreign policy, specific legislation, etc.) in more depth, or search for recent historian/public opinion rankings if that would help.