Joe Biden's presidency (2021–2025) is highly polarizing; whether he was "good" depends on one's priorities, values, and metrics. There is no objective yes/no—supporters highlight legislative wins, crisis management, and certain economic recoveries; critics point to inflation, border issues, Afghanistan withdrawal, age/cognitive concerns, and policy overreach. Below is a balanced factual overview drawn from economic data, legislation, polls, and major events.
Key Achievements and Positive Indicators
•Major legislation:
•American Rescue Plan (2021): COVID relief, stimulus checks, expanded child tax credit (temporarily cut child poverty).
•Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): Bipartisan ~$1T for roads, bridges, broadband, etc.
•CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Subsidies for domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
•Inflation Reduction Act (2022): Climate/energy investments, drug price negotiation (Medicare), corporate minimum tax.
•Other: PACT Act (veterans' health), gun safety law (modest bipartisan), Respect for Marriage Act.
•Economy and jobs (pre- and early-COVID baselines to 2024):
•Strong job recovery post-COVID: Unemployment fell to ~3.4–4% range; millions of jobs added.
•GDP growth resumed after 2020 contraction; stock market (S&P 500) reached record highs.
•Manufacturing and green energy investments via IRA/CHIPS.
•Student loan forgiveness efforts (partially blocked by courts) and some antitrust actions.
•Foreign policy/other: Support for Ukraine against Russia (aid packages); Abraham Accords continuity in some Mideast areas; ending Afghanistan war (though chaotic); COVID vaccine rollout acceleration and ending emergencies; judicial appointments (including first Black woman Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson); some criminal justice and cannabis-related clemency.
•Public health: Overseeing transition out of acute COVID phase; high vaccination rates early on.
Polls of historians or early retrospectives sometimes rank him middling-to-average among modern presidents on legislative productivity, though these are subjective and often left-leaning.
Major Criticisms and Negative Indicators
•Inflation and cost of living: Peaked at ~9% CPI in 2022 (highest in 40 years), driven by stimulus, supply chains, energy, and war; real wages lagged for many; grocery/gas/housing costs hurt working/middle class. "Transitory" framing early on drew backlash. Inflation cooled later via Fed rate hikes, but prices remained elevated.
•Border and immigration: Record encounters/crossings at southern border; Title 42 end, parole programs, and enforcement critiques led to perceptions of crisis (fentanyl, strained cities, politics). Executive actions tightened later amid pressure.
•Afghanistan withdrawal (2021): Chaotic evacuation, 13 U.S. service members killed in Kabul bombing, allies left behind, Taliban rapid takeover—widely seen as poorly executed even by some supporters.
•Age, fitness, and leadership style: Oldest president; gaffes, limited press access, special counsel report on memory issues (Hur), and 2024 debate performance fueled concerns about capacity. He dropped out of 2024 re-election race after pressure.
•Other: Student loan plans struck down; perceived softness on crime/cities early on; energy policy (pause on new leases, then reversal amid prices); China/Russia relations; classified documents issues; family influence perceptions (Hunter Biden). Debt ceiling fights and spending added to deficits.
•Partisan gridlock and culture: Polarization intensified; executive actions on climate, equity, student debt often reversed or litigated; some view "Build Back Better" ambitions as inflationary or overreaching.
Polls and Public Opinion
•Approval ratings: Averaged in the low-to-mid 40s for much of the term (Gallup, FiveThirtyEight aggregates); rarely above 50% after early months. Ended lower amid inflation/border/age issues. Republicans overwhelmingly negative; Democrats more positive but eroded.
•Exit polls/2024 election: Voters cited economy, inflation, immigration, and democracy/abortion as top issues; Trump won popular and electoral votes decisively in a rematch context after Biden exited.
•Retrospective views remain split along party lines. Economic "vibes" often lagged official stats (strong jobs/GDP but high prices).
Context and Comparisons
Presidencies are judged on multiple axes (economy, security, legislation, character, long-term effects). Biden inherited COVID recovery, polarization, and Trump-era dynamics, then faced Ukraine war, inflation shock, and domestic divides. Successes were often incremental/bipartisan on infrastructure/tech; bigger progressive goals faced Senate limits (Manchin/Sinema) or courts. Long-term effects of IRA climate spending, CHIPS, or Ukraine aid are still unfolding. Compared to recent presidents: stronger legislative output than Trump in some areas, weaker on immigration/perceptions of strength than some predecessors; economy recovered faster than post-2008 in jobs but with worse inflation than Obama years.
Bottom line: If you prioritize climate investment, industrial policy, social spending expansions, alliances vs. authoritarianism, and post-COVID jobs recovery, many rate him positively or adequate. If you prioritize low inflation/stable prices, border security, decisive foreign exits, fiscal restraint, or vigorous leadership presence, many rate him poorly. Data supports both narratives depending on framing—e.g., "jobs boom" vs. "inflation tax." For primary sources, check BLS/BEA economic data, Congressional Research Service summaries, Gallup/Pew polls, and CBO fiscal scores.