Was Joe Biden a good president?

A balanced look at the Biden presidency — I'll pull recent evaluations of his record, achievements, and approval.

Whether Joe Biden was a good president depends on political perspective and the criteria used to evaluate him. Historians, pollsters, and partisan commentators have offered very different assessments.

Record in Office

Biden served as the 46th President from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025, taking office during the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftermath.

Major legislative and policy accomplishments cited by supporters and analysts:

The Council on Foreign Relations summarized his presidency as one of remarkable accomplishment against a fractured domestic and international backdrop, while noting he secured major pieces of legislation — the pandemic relief bill, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act — despite holding the narrowest of partisan margins in Congress.

Major Criticisms and Challenges

Critics often point to issues such as inflation, the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, border security concerns, and economic policies as reasons for their negative assessment

Other commentators have pointed to the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan becoming a lasting political liability and that inflation and concerns about border security depressed public confidence and contributed to low approval ratings.

Public Approval vs. Expert Assessment

Public polling during Biden's term was generally weak:

Historian rankings have been more favorable:

Experts who self-identified as conservatives rated Biden No. 30, while liberals put him 13th and moderates ranked him 20th, showing ideological variation.

Summary

Supporters defend Biden by arguing he inherited significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery, and credit him with achievements like the American Rescue Plan, infrastructure investments, and efforts to combat climate change.

Critics contend economic challenges including inflation, controversial foreign policy decisions like the Afghanistan withdrawal, and domestic policy debates define a negative legacy, while supporters highlight accomplishments shadowed by controversies.

As with most presidencies, whether Biden was a "good" president is contested and often reflects partisan affiliation, whether one emphasizes legislative achievements and alliance restoration or inflation, border issues, and the Afghanistan exit. Opinions vary widely and it is too soon to make a definitive historical judgment.