Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate among historians, political analysts, and the public. Like many single-term presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens.
Supporters point to a highly consequential domestic legislative record and a strong post-pandemic economic recovery, while critics emphasize persistent inflation, border security challenges, foreign policy crises, and the political circumstances surrounding his exit from the 2024 campaign.
Below is an overview of the primary arguments on both sides of his presidency.
The Case for a Successful Presidency (Key Achievements)
Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was one of the most productive domestic legislators in modern presidential history, passing several landmark bills despite a razor-thin congressional majority:
•Major Legislative Legacy: Biden signed several major pieces of legislation aimed at restructuring the American economy:
•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief package that funded the national vaccination campaign, provided direct stimulus checks, and supported schools and local governments.
•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1.2 trillion bipartisan package to rebuild roads, bridges, public transit, clean water systems, and expand broadband internet.
•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Billions of dollars in funding to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in climate change and clean energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.
•Job Growth and Economic Recovery: Under Biden, the U.S. economy experienced rapid job growth, with unemployment rates falling to historic lows (between 3.4% and 4%). Supporters credit his policies with boosting manufacturing and helping the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic faster than almost any other G7 country.
•Global Alliances and Climate: On his first day in office, Biden re-entered the Paris Climate Agreement. He worked to repair international alliances strained during the Trump administration, expanding NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and strengthening Indo-Pacific partnerships like the Quad and AUKUS.
The Case Against His Presidency (Key Criticisms)
Critics argue that Biden’s presidency was defined by economic instability at home, a lack of control over key domestic issues, and growing global chaos:
•Inflation and the Cost of Living: Although job growth was strong, Biden's presidency was deeply damaged by inflation, which peaked at a 40-year high of 9.1% in mid-2022. While inflation eventually cooled, the cumulative rise in the cost of groceries, housing, and fuel significantly strained household budgets and severely damaged his public approval ratings. Critics argue that the massive spending in the American Rescue Plan helped spark this inflation.
•Immigration and Border Security: Critics and opponents frequently pointed to the southern U.S. border as one of Biden's greatest failures. The administration struggled to manage record-high numbers of migrant crossings, leading to major humanitarian, logistical, and political challenges for cities across the country.
•Foreign Policy Challenges:
•The Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic pullout of American forces from Kabul, which resulted in the rapid Taliban takeover and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a terrorist attack, became a turning point from which Biden's approval ratings never fully recovered.
•Global Instability: Critics argue that the Biden administration failed to project deterrence, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks. Furthermore, Biden’s continued military and diplomatic support for Israel alienated progressives and Arab-American voters.
•Age and Election Exit: Concerns about Biden’s age (he was 82 when he left office) and mental acuity persisted throughout his term. His insistence on running for re-election, followed by a highly criticized debate performance in June 2024, led to immense pressure from his own party to step down. His late withdrawal from the race forced a hurried campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris, which critics argue contributed to the Democrats' defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
Conclusion
Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends largely on which aspects of his term one prioritizes:
•Those who view him positively see a transition-era president who successfully guided the country out of a global pandemic, presided over historic job creation, and passed some of the most substantial domestic legislation since the 1960s.
•Those who view him negatively point to the painful financial toll of inflation, a perceived loss of control over the southern border, a chaotic foreign policy landscape, and political missteps that ultimately led to his party losing the White House.