Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of intense debate, with assessments highly dependent on a person's political perspective. Since his presidency concluded in January 2025, historians, economists, and the public have analyzed his single term (2021–2025) with sharply contrasting views.

To understand his legacy, it is helpful to look at both the arguments in favor of his presidency and the primary criticisms against it.

The Case for a Successful Presidency (The Positive View)

Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was an exceptionally productive president who passed landmark legislation, successfully steered the nation out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and restored international alliances.

•Major Legislative Legacy: Despite working with a razor-thin congressional majority, Biden passed some of the most significant domestic legislation in decades. Key achievements include:

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: A $1.2 trillion investment in the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water.

•The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest federal investment in fighting climate change and clean energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped insulin costs.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: Designed to boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductors and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

•Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. economy recovered from the COVID-19 recession faster than almost any other developed nation. His term saw record-breaking job creation, historically low unemployment rates (including record lows for Black and Hispanic Americans), and strong GDP growth.

•Strengthening Foreign Alliances: Following the "America First" approach of his predecessor, Biden focused on repairing relationships with traditional allies. He successfully expanded and revitalized NATO and led a global coalition to provide military and financial support to Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

•A "Return to Normalcy": Supporters credit Biden with lowering the political temperature in Washington, restoring traditional norms of governance, and stabilizing federal institutions after the January 6 Capitol riot.

The Case Against His Presidency (The Critical View)

Critics—including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats—argue that his presidency was marked by economic hardship for ordinary Americans, foreign policy failures, and border instability.

•High Inflation and Cost of Living: Biden’s term was plagued by a severe inflation crisis, with inflation peaking at a 40-year high of 9.1% in 2022. Critics blame his early legislative packages, such as the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, for pumping too much money into the economy and triggering inflation. The high cost of groceries, rent, and gasoline heavily damaged public perception of his economic leadership.

•The Southern Border Crisis: One of the most persistent vulnerabilities of his administration was immigration. Record numbers of migrant crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border overwhelmed local resources in several major cities, drawing intense criticism from opponents who argued his administration was too slow to enforce stricter border policies.

•Foreign Policy Setbacks:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members, left billions of dollars in military equipment behind, and allowed the Taliban to rapidly regain control. This event marked a permanent downward turning point in Biden's public approval ratings.

•Global Instability: Critics argue that the outbreaks of major conflicts—such as the war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza—occurred because Biden's foreign policy failed to project American deterrence. His handling of the Israel-Hamas war also alienated progressives and young voters who felt he was too supportive of Israel's military campaign.

•Age, Cognitive Concerns, and the 2024 Election: Biden was the oldest president in U.S. history. Persistent concerns over his age and mental acuity culminated in a disastrous debate performance in June 2024. After weeks of pressure from his own party, he withdrew from the 2024 race. Some Democrats and commentators criticize Biden for waiting too long to step aside, which they argue gave Vice President Kamala Harris a compressed timeline to run a successful campaign, ultimately leading to Donald Trump's return to the presidency.

Public and Historical Assessment

Public opinion of Joe Biden remains deeply divided along partisan lines. During his presidency, his approval rating averaged in the low 40s.

According to a Gallup poll conducted near the end of his term, 54% of Americans predicted history would judge his presidency as "below average" or "poor," while 19% predicted it would be seen as "outstanding" or "above average," and 26% rated it as "average".

Conclusion:
Historically, evaluations of presidents often change with time. Whether Joe Biden is remembered as a "good" president depends on what a person prioritizes. Those who focus on monumental legislative achievements, infrastructure investments, and the preservation of democratic norms tend to view him favorably. Conversely, those who focus on the immediate financial strain of inflation, global instability, and the border crisis view his term as a failure.

Citations (8)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of intense debate, with assessments highly dependent on a person's political perspective.”
2washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was an exceptionally productive president who passed landmark legislation, successfully steered the nation out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and restored international alliances.”
3millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Supporters of Joe Biden argue that he was an exceptionally productive president who passed landmark legislation, successfully steered the nation out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and restored international alliances.”
4unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “Major Legislative Legacy: Despite working with a razor-thin congressional majority, Biden passed some of the most significant domestic legislation in decades. Key achievements include:”
5gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “Critics—including Republicans, independents, and some progressive Democrats—argue that his presidency was marked by economic hardship for ordinary Americans, foreign policy failures, and border instability. High Inflation and Cost of Living: Biden’s term was plagued by a severe inflation crisis, with inflation peaking…”
6270towin.comData and tools
270towin.com
Backs: “Persistent concerns over his age and mental acuity culminated in a disastrous debate performance in June 2024. After weeks of pressure from his own party, he withdrew from the 2024 race.”
7worldmapper.orgNot yet classified
worldmapper.org
Backs: “After weeks of pressure from his own party, he withdrew from the 2024 race. Some Democrats and commentators criticize Biden for waiting too long to step aside, which they argue gave Vice President Kamala Harris a compressed timeline to run a successful campaign, ultimately leading to Donald Trump's return to the…”
8ballotpedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.89
ballotpedia.org
Backs: “Some Democrats and commentators criticize Biden for waiting too long to step aside, which they argue gave Vice President Kamala Harris a compressed timeline to run a successful campaign, ultimately leading to Donald Trump's return to the presidency. ---. Public and Historical Assessment”