Was Joe Biden a good president?

Evaluating whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate. Assessments of his presidency (which ran from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025) vary widely depending on whether one focuses on his extensive domestic legislative achievements or the economic, immigration, and foreign policy challenges that occurred during his term.

There is a notable divide between the perspectives of presidential historians and political scientists—who often rate his term highly for its domestic policy impact—and the general public, whose view was heavily shaped by high inflation and global instability.

Arguments in Favor (The Case for a Successful Presidency)

Supporters and progressive historians argue that Biden was a highly consequential, effective president who successfully navigated the U.S. through a historic pandemic and passed landmark legislation.

•Major Legislative Achievements: Despite holding slim congressional majorities, Biden signed several historic, bipartisan, and partisan bills into law. These include:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that funded vaccine distribution, sent direct stimulus checks to Americans, and expanded the child tax credit.

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): A $1.2 trillion investment in rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, clean water access, and broadband internet.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Legislation aimed at bringing high-tech semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. and reducing economic reliance on China.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest climate and clean energy investment in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capped insulin costs for seniors.

•Strong Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: Under the Biden administration, the U.S. economy experienced rapid job growth and historically low unemployment rates (dipping to 3.4% in 2023, the lowest in over 50 years). Economists noted that the U.S. economic rebound from the pandemic was among the strongest in the industrialized world.

•Rebuilding Alliances: In foreign policy, Biden focused on restoring traditional global alliances. He strengthened NATO, led a united Western coalition to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion, and created new security partnerships (like AUKUS) to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.

•Judicial Appointments: Biden appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and appointed record numbers of diverse judges to federal appeals and district courts.

Arguments Against (The Case for a Weak or Mediocre Presidency)

Critics, conservative opponents, and many independent voters contend that Biden’s presidency was marked by economic hardship at home and severe crises abroad.

•Inflation and the Cost of Living: Persistent high inflation was the defining domestic challenge of Biden’s presidency, peaking at 9.1% in June 2022. Critics argue that his massive stimulus spending, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and triggered this inflation. Though inflation eventually cooled, the high cost of groceries, housing, and gas severely damaged public confidence in his economic stewardship.

•Foreign Policy Setbacks and Instability:

•Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power. This event is widely cited as the turning point where Biden’s public approval ratings entered a permanent decline.

•Global Conflicts: Critics argue that the administration failed to project the strength necessary to deter major global conflicts, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of the war in the Middle East following the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

•Border Security and Immigration: The southern U.S. border faced unprecedented surges in migrant crossings during Biden's term, straining the resources of major cities and state governments. Critics criticized the administration's initial rollback of stricter border policies, and border security remained a major political vulnerability throughout his term.

•Age and the 2024 Election: As the oldest president in U.S. history, Biden’s age and physical/mental acuity were constant targets for critics. Concerns culminated in a poor debate performance in June 2024, leading to intense pressure from within his own party and his subsequent historic decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.

•Late-Term Controversies: In December 2024, Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, who faced federal tax and gun charges. Critics accused the president of hypocrisy and undermining the rule of law, as he had repeatedly promised not to use his presidential powers to shield his family.

Public Opinion vs. Historian Ratings

The divide between policy achievements and immediate public frustration is reflected in how Biden’s legacy is measured:

•Public Opinion: Biden left office with relatively low approval ratings, hovering around 40% in his final weeks. In a Gallup poll taken shortly before he left office in January 2025, 54% of Americans expected history to judge his presidency unfavorably ("below average" or "poor"), compared to just 19% who thought he would be remembered favorably ("outstanding" or "above average").

•Scholarly Evaluation: In contrast, early rankings by historians and political scientists placed Biden in a much more favorable light. In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey (conducted by presidential scholars), Biden entered the rankings at #14 out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third. Scholars praised his ability to restore traditional democratic norms and his remarkable legislative output under difficult conditions, though some noted that his ranking might fluctuate downward in the wake of the 2024 election outcomes and his late-term decisions.

Conclusion

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends largely on perspective. To those who value a robust legislative agenda, major green energy investments, and a return to traditional international alliances, he is seen as a highly consequential and successful president. To those who prioritize price stability, border control, and global peace, his tenure is viewed as a period of domestic hardship and international decline.

Citations (14)

1infobase.comNot yet classified
infobase.com
Backs: “Evaluating whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate.”
2theguardian.comNews and mediaquality 0.75
theguardian.com
Backs: “Assessments of his presidency (which ran from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025) vary widely depending on whether one focuses on his extensive domestic legislative achievements or the economic, immigration, and foreign policy challenges that occurred during his term.”
3port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “There is a notable divide between the perspectives of presidential historians and political scientists—who often rate his term highly for its domestic policy impact—and the general public, whose view was heavily shaped by high inflation and global instability.”
4pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
pbs.org
Backs: “There is a notable divide between the perspectives of presidential historians and political scientists—who often rate his term highly for its domestic policy impact—and the general public, whose view was heavily shaped by high inflation and global instability.”
5latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “There is a notable divide between the perspectives of presidential historians and political scientists—who often rate his term highly for its domestic policy impact—and the general public, whose view was heavily shaped by high inflation and global instability.”
6reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): A $1.2 trillion investment in rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, clean water access, and broadband internet. The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Legislation aimed at bringing high-tech semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S.”
7house.govGovernment
house.gov
Backs: “Critics, conservative opponents, and many independent voters contend that Biden’s presidency was marked by economic hardship at home and severe crises abroad. Inflation and the Cost of Living: Persistent high inflation was the defining domestic challenge of Biden’s presidency, peaking at 9.1% in June 2022.”
8wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Foreign Policy Setbacks and Instability: Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power. This event is widely cited as the turning point where Biden’s public approval ratings…”
9facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “This event is widely cited as the turning point where Biden’s public approval ratings entered a permanent decline. Global Conflicts: Critics argue that the administration failed to project the strength necessary to deter major global conflicts, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of the war in…”
10gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “Public Opinion: Biden left office with relatively low approval ratings, hovering around 40% in his final weeks. In a Gallup poll taken shortly before he left office in January 2025, 54% of Americans expected history to judge his presidency unfavorably ("below average" or "poor"), compared to just 19% who thought he…”
11gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “In a Gallup poll taken shortly before he left office in January 2025, 54% of Americans expected history to judge his presidency unfavorably ("below average" or "poor"), compared to just 19% who thought he would be remembered favorably ("outstanding" or "above average"). Scholarly Evaluation: In contrast, early…”
12gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “In a Gallup poll taken shortly before he left office in January 2025, 54% of Americans expected history to judge his presidency unfavorably ("below average" or "poor"), compared to just 19% who thought he would be remembered favorably ("outstanding" or "above average"). Scholarly Evaluation: In contrast, early…”
13uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey (conducted by presidential scholars), Biden entered the rankings at #14 out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third. Scholars praised his ability to restore traditional democratic norms and his remarkable legislative output under difficult conditions, though…”
14nwprogressive.orgNot yet classified
nwprogressive.org
Backs: “Scholars praised his ability to restore traditional democratic norms and his remarkable legislative output under difficult conditions, though some noted that his ranking might fluctuate downward in the wake of the 2024 election outcomes and his late-term decisions. Conclusion”