Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a matter of ongoing political debate and depends heavily on one's values and priorities. Rather than giving a one-sided verdict, let me lay out the major points on both sides based on his record.Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is genuinely contested, and the answer depends a lot on which criteria and timeframe you weigh most heavily. Here's a balanced look at the evidence:

Arguments for a positive assessment

Policy accomplishments: In its first half, the Biden administration successfully navigated an effective response to the COVID pandemic and oversaw the passing of the most significant climate legislation in US history, while the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continues to deliver material improvements to Americans' lives.

Economic record: The administration's economic performance exceeded many forecasters' expectations, especially in job creation—Biden was the first president under whom jobs were created during every month in office, with 2.23 million jobs created in the final year of his term.

Judicial and institutional legacy: His achievements are tangible and numerous—enrollment in the Affordable Care Act nearly doubled, he got more federal judges confirmed than any president in a single term (save Jimmy Carter), and his steadfast support for Ukraine and NATO expansion, at a time of creeping autocracy in Europe, was heroic.

Historians' ranking: In a 2024 survey of 154 historians and presidential experts, they rate Biden in the top third of U.S. presidents, with the 2024 edition of the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey placing Biden in 14th place, just ahead of Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan. Notably, historians credited his legacy to managing the end of the COVID pandemic, rebuilding infrastructure, and leading an international coalition against Russian aggression.

Arguments for a negative assessment

Public approval was weak: Biden's average approval rating across his term was 42%, with a high of 57% and a final rating of 40%. By late 2024, a Gallup poll found a majority (54 percent) believed Biden would be remembered as a "below average" (17 percent) or "poor" (37 percent) president.

Afghanistan withdrawal: The chaos and confusion of the withdrawal from Afghanistan rightly drew criticism—especially the deaths of 13 US service members—and while the withdrawal itself was the right decision, Biden is linked to the end of a war that dragged on for two decades, costing hundreds of thousands of lives and more than $2 trillion.

Inflation and border issues: Critics point to concerns over border security, the state of the economy, and his decision to run for reelection in 2024 as major blemishes. On the economic front, critics believe the economy was already re-opening from the pandemic when Biden took office, and that his programs only served to raise inflation, reflecting special interest giveaways to partisan allies.

Political fallout: Harris' election defeat was largely attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the economy under Biden's administration, such as decades-high levels of inflation and record-breaking gas prices.

The bottom line

There's a notable split between expert/historian assessments and general public opinion. Historians tend to rate Biden fairly highly based on legislative accomplishments (infrastructure, climate, pandemic response) and his handling of Ukraine. But the partisan gap in approval exploded to over 80 points under Biden, compared to 30-40 points under Eisenhower and Kennedy, making any "objective" consensus difficult. Ultimately, whether you view him as "good" likely hinges on which issues you prioritize—economic stewardship, foreign policy, immigration, institutional norms—and your political starting point.