Was Joe Biden a good president?

No objective "yes" or "no" exists—whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is highly subjective, depending on one's priorities (e.g., economic growth vs. inflation/cost of living, climate action vs. energy prices, immigration enforcement vs. humanitarian concerns, foreign alliances vs. isolationism), political affiliation, and weighting of achievements against failures. Contemporary public opinion was largely negative, while some early historian assessments were more favorable (partly for defeating Trump in 2020 and restoring institutional norms). His record is mixed: substantial legislative wins and a strong post-COVID recovery on jobs, alongside high inflation, a chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, record border encounters, and persistent low approval.[1]

Public Opinion and Legacy Perceptions

Biden’s Gallup average job approval was 42.2% over his term—the second-lowest among post-WWII presidents (just above Trump’s first-term average). It started in the mid-to-high 50s during a honeymoon period, fell after the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, and mostly stayed in the high 30s to low 40s thereafter, ending around 40%. Ratings were extremely polarized (high among Democrats, very low among Republicans and modest among independents).[1]

A January 2025 Gallup poll found 54% of Americans expected history to rate him as “below average” or “poor” (similar to views of Nixon), with only 19% saying “outstanding” or “above average.” Early historian surveys (e.g., 2024 Presidential Greatness Project) ranked him around 14th out of 45 presidents—respectable but not elite—crediting him with restoring norms after Trump and legislative productivity, though such rankings often show partisan skews among academics and can shift with time.[2]

Economic Record

The economy showed strength in recovery metrics but pain in prices:

Supporters highlight the soft landing (inflation cooling without major recession) and manufacturing/investment boosts. Critics emphasize eroded purchasing power, higher interest rates from Fed hikes, and debt/spending levels.

Major Legislative and Domestic Achievements

With narrow congressional margins, Biden passed significant bills:

These advanced climate goals, industrial policy, and infrastructure with lasting effects (private investment announcements exceeded $1T in some tallies).

Foreign Policy

Key Criticisms and Failures

Bottom Line

Biden delivered tangible progressive/center-left wins on climate, infrastructure, industrial policy, healthcare tweaks, and post-COVID jobs/recovery while managing major foreign crises without direct U.S. combat escalation in Europe. These are real accomplishments, especially given congressional constraints. However, the inflation surge’s impact on living costs, the border surge, Afghanistan debacle, and questions about leadership capacity overshadowed them for a majority of the public, contributing to Democratic losses in 2024.

Like most recent presidents, his standing is polarized and will evolve with hindsight (e.g., long-term effects of CHIPS/IRA investments or Ukraine outcomes). “Good” ultimately hinges on what you value most—data supports arguments on both sides. For deeper dives, review primary sources like BLS/BEA economic data, CBP border stats, Gallup archives, and White House/congressional records.