Evaluating whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a complex question with no single consensus. Views on his presidency (2021–2025) vary widely depending on political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views.
Supporters often point to a highly productive legislative record and strong post-pandemic recovery, while critics emphasize persistent inflation, geopolitical crises, and his handling of the southern border.
The Arguments for a Successful Presidency (The Positive View)
Supporters and center-left historians argue that Biden was a highly consequential president who achieved historic domestic victories despite working with a razor-thin congressional majority.
•Significant Legislative Achievements: Biden signed several landmark bipartisan and partisan bills into law, including:
•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A massive, bipartisan investment in the country’s roads, bridges, public transit, and broadband access.
•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in green energy and climate initiatives in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped insulin costs for seniors.
•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic-relief package that expanded the child tax credit and funded vaccine distribution.
•Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. economy experienced historic job creation and sustained periods of record-low unemployment. Supporters note that the U.S. recovered from the COVID-19 recession faster and more robustly than almost any other major global economy.
•Restoring Alliances: Following the "America First" foreign policy of the Trump administration, Biden focused on rebuilding international alliances. He successfully rallied NATO and other global partners to support Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.
•Pandemic Management: Upon taking office, his administration implemented a systematic, large-scale COVID-19 vaccination rollout and established a more predictable, science-led public health response.
The Arguments Against His Presidency (The Critical View)
Critics, including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats, argue that Biden’s tenure was marred by economic pain at home and instability abroad.
•Inflation and Cost of Living: High inflation was the defining domestic challenge of Biden’s presidency. Critics argue that his large-scale spending packages, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and drove up the cost of groceries, gas, and housing. Though inflation eventually cooled, the cumulative rise in the cost of living left many Americans feeling financially worse off.
•The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 is widely viewed as a major failure. The rapid Taliban takeover, the tragic death of 13 U.S. service members in a bombing at Kabul airport, and the abandonment of Afghan allies severely damaged Biden’s foreign policy reputation and marked the permanent decline of his public approval ratings.
•Border Security and Immigration: Biden faced intense criticism over his handling of the U.S.–Mexico border. Record numbers of migrant crossings strained local resources in border states and major cities, leading critics to accuse his administration of failing to enforce federal immigration law.
•Foreign Policy Volatility: Critics point to the outbreak of major global conflicts during his term—specifically the war in Ukraine and the devastating conflict in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—as evidence of weakened U.S. deterrence. His administration also faced heavy internal pressure: progressives criticized his steadfast support of Israel amidst high civilian casualties in Gaza, while conservatives argued he did not project enough strength against adversaries like Iran and China.
•Age and Political Transition: Biden's age (he was the oldest sitting president in U.S. history) was a constant source of public concern. His initial refusal to step aside for a younger candidate, followed by his late withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race after a highly criticized debate performance, led some critics to argue that his political hubris damaged his party's future.
Public Approval and Historical Ratings
During his presidency, Biden's approval ratings remained low, typically hovering in the high 30s to low 40s for the latter half of his term.
Polls conducted near the end of his presidency reflected a deeply divided nation:
•A January 2025 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans expected history to judge his presidency as "below average" or "poor," while 19% thought he would be remembered as "outstanding" or "above average," and 26% rated him as "average."
•Like many modern presidents, these ratings were heavily split by political party: the vast majority of Democrats viewed his legacy favorably, while Republicans overwhelmingly viewed it negatively, and independents leaned critical.
Conclusion
Historians often describe Biden's term as a "presidency of two halves." Depending on how you weigh his record, he can be seen as an incredibly effective legislator who guided the country through the end of a pandemic and passed generational investments in America's future. Alternatively, he can be viewed as a leader whose term was defined by punishing inflation, global instability, and a polarized country eager for change.