Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate among historians, political scientists, and the public. His single term (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) was marked by highly consequential domestic legislation, but it was also overshadowed by persistent inflation, global crises, and political division.

Assessing his presidency involves examining both his major achievements and the sharpest criticisms of his administration.

Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (The Achievements)

Supporters and many presidential scholars view Biden as a highly consequential president who successfully navigated the country through a series of unprecedented crises.

•Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite a razor-thin congressional majority, Biden passed several landmark pieces of legislation that represented the most significant federal investment in the U.S. economy in decades:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package.

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A bipartisan $1.2 trillion bill targeting roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in fighting climate change in U.S. history, alongside provisions to lower prescription drug costs.

•Economic Recovery: Under his administration, the U.S. experienced one of the strongest post-pandemic economic recoveries among G7 nations. The country saw record-low unemployment rates and the creation of over 16 million jobs, the most in a single term.

•Strengthening International Alliances: Biden restored traditional alliances, particularly NATO, which had been strained during the previous administration. He successfully rallied Western nations to support Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

•Judicial Appointments: Biden prioritized diversifying the federal bench, securing the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice, and appointing more federal judges than any single-term president since Jimmy Carter.

Criticisms and Failures (The Disadvantages)

Critics, particularly Republicans but also many independents and progressive Democrats, point to several key failures and structural issues during his term.

•Inflation and Cost of Living: While job growth was strong, the Biden era was plagued by high inflation, which peaked at over 9% in 2022 and averaged roughly 5.4% annually across his presidency. Rising prices for food, housing, and energy severely impacted the public's purchasing power and drove down his approval ratings.

•Border and Immigration Policy: The southern U.S. border faced historic surges in migrant crossings. Critics argued his administration was too slow to address the crisis, which strained local government resources in both border states and major metropolitan areas.

•Foreign Policy Missteps:

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic pullout of U.S. troops resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, the rapid return of the Taliban, and a sharp decline in Biden’s public approval from which he never fully recovered.

•The War in Gaza: The administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war alienated both progressive Democrats (who opposed U.S. military aid to Israel amid a humanitarian crisis) and conservative critics (who argued his stance was not supportive enough of Israel).

•Age, Re-election Bid, and Leadership Transition: Biden’s decision to run for re-election in 2024 despite widespread public concern over his physical and cognitive decline was heavily criticized as hubris. His late withdrawal from the race in July 2024 left his vice president, Kamala Harris, with a condensed campaign window. Critics and political analysts argue this set the stage for the Democratic Party's defeat and the return of Donald Trump to the presidency in the 2024 election.

How Historians and the Public View Him

The divergence in how Biden is viewed depends largely on whether one focuses on his legislative record or the political and economic environment at the end of his term.

•The Historians' Early Perspective: In the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey conducted in early 2024, a poll of presidential scholars ranked Biden 14th out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third. Scholars praised his institutional stability, legislative efficiency, and defense of democratic norms.

•The Post-Presidency Reassessment: By the time he left office in early 2025, historians and analysts noted that his final legacy was deeply complicated. Retrospective discussions highlight that while his legislative achievements remain undeniable, the political fallout of inflation, foreign conflicts, and the 2024 election loss significantly damaged his standing with the American public, who gave him average approval ratings of around 42%.

Ultimately, those who prioritize systemic legislative change, climate investment, and international coalition-building tend to view Biden as a highly successful president. Conversely, those who prioritize cost-of-living stability, border security, foreign policy order, and political leadership view his presidency as a period of decline.

Citations (8)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “His single term (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) was marked by highly consequential domestic legislation, but it was also overshadowed by persistent inflation, global crises, and political division.”
2wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “His single term (January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025) was marked by highly consequential domestic legislation, but it was also overshadowed by persistent inflation, global crises, and political division.”
3cuny.eduAcademic
cuny.edu
Backs: “Major Legislative Accomplishments: Despite a razor-thin congressional majority, Biden passed several landmark pieces of legislation that represented the most significant federal investment in the U.S. economy in decades: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package.”
4democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A bipartisan $1.2 trillion bill targeting roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water. The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research.”
5cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
cbsnews.com
Backs: “Strengthening International Alliances: Biden restored traditional alliances, particularly NATO, which had been strained during the previous administration. He successfully rallied Western nations to support Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.”
6latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “The War in Gaza: The administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war alienated both progressive Democrats (who opposed U.S. military aid to Israel amid a humanitarian crisis) and conservative critics (who argued his stance was not supportive enough of Israel). Age, Re-election Bid, and Leadership Transition: Biden’s…”
7facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “The Historians' Early Perspective: In the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey conducted in early 2024, a poll of presidential scholars ranked Biden 14th out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third. Scholars praised his institutional stability, legislative efficiency, and defense of democratic norms.”
8uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “The Historians' Early Perspective: In the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey conducted in early 2024, a poll of presidential scholars ranked Biden 14th out of 45 presidents, placing him in the top third. Scholars praised his institutional stability, legislative efficiency, and defense of democratic norms.”