Was Joe Biden a good president?

Assessing whether any president was "good" is inherently subjective and depends on individual values, priorities (e.g., economy, foreign policy, social issues), and political perspective. I'll provide a balanced overview of key facts, achievements, criticisms, and data from Joe Biden's presidency (2021–2025), drawing on economic indicators, legislative records, polls, and major events.No objective "yes" or "no" exists—whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is highly subjective, depending on one's priorities (economy, foreign policy, social issues, immigration, competence, etc.), values, and political views. Historians will rank him over time based on lasting impacts, much as they have for predecessors. His single term (2021–2025) featured major legislative wins and a strong post-COVID economic recovery alongside significant controversies, policy setbacks, high inflation early on, and persistently low public approval.[1]

Here is a balanced overview of key facts, achievements, criticisms, and data.

Major Achievements and Positive Outcomes

Biden’s administration passed substantial legislation despite narrow congressional margins, focusing on pandemic recovery, infrastructure, manufacturing, climate, and healthcare:

Supporters credit these for healing the economy, advancing clean energy/tech competitiveness vs. China, expanding opportunity, and restoring traditional U.S. leadership.[5]

Major Criticisms and Shortcomings

Critics point to execution failures, economic pain for households, security issues, and personal/leadership concerns:

Detractors argue these overshadowed wins, eroded trust, and contributed to Democratic losses in 2024.[10]

Public Opinion and Polls

Gallup data shows Biden’s average job approval at 42.2%—the second-lowest for any post-WWII president (only slightly above Trump’s first-term average). It started in the mid-to-high 50s, fell below 50% after Afghanistan, and hovered in the high 30s to low 40s for most of the term (final readings ~37–40%). Extreme partisan polarization was the norm (very high Democratic approval, very low Republican). A late Gallup poll found a majority viewing his presidency as below average or poor.[1]

Bottom Line

Biden oversaw a historically strong jobs recovery, landmark investments in infrastructure/climate/tech, healthcare expansions, and robust support for allies against aggression—outcomes many view as successful governance amid crises. At the same time, early high inflation eroded purchasing power and public confidence, the Afghanistan exit was a public relations and human-cost disaster, border encounters reached crisis levels for much of the term, and low/steady disapproval reflected broader dissatisfaction with leadership, costs of living, and national direction.

History’s judgment will depend on which legacies endure (e.g., manufacturing renaissance and clean energy vs. inflation scars and border/security perceptions) and comparisons to other one-term or crisis presidents. Reasonable people disagree sharply based on evidence and worldview; the record contains both substantial successes and clear failures.