Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate, with assessments varying widely depending on the political, economic, and social perspectives of observers.

Biden served as the 46th president of the United States from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. His legacy is marked by a notable contrast: while presidential historians and political scientists generally rank him highly for his legislative achievements, the American public gave him low approval ratings by the end of his term.

Below is an overview of the primary arguments in favor of and against his presidency.

The Case for a "Good" Presidency (Accomplishments)

Supporters and historians who view Biden’s presidency favorably point to a series of major legislative successes, economic recovery efforts, and foreign policy achievements:

•Historic Legislative Output: Despite working with a razor-thin Democratic majority (and later a divided Congress), Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion stimulus package designed to facilitate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1 trillion bipartisan bill aimed at rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, public transit, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): A bill designed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research to compete with China.

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

•The PACT Act (2022): Legislation expanding healthcare access for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

•Economic Performance: Under Biden, the U.S. experienced rapid job growth and historically low unemployment rates, recovering from the pandemic-induced economic downturn faster than almost any other major global economy.

•Restoring Foreign Alliances: Biden recommitted the U.S. to international agreements (such as rejoining the Paris Climate Accord) and worked to repair relationships with traditional allies. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, his administration rallied NATO and international partners to provide coordinated military and financial support to Kyiv.

•Judicial Diversity: Biden appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and prioritized appointing a highly diverse slate of judges to federal courts.

•Historians' Perspective: In a notable 2024 survey of presidential scholars and historians conducted by the Presidential Greatness Project, Biden was ranked as the 14th-best president in U.S. history, with experts praising his legislative productivity and his role in "restoring normalcy" to the executive branch.

The Case Against His Presidency (Criticisms)

Critics, including political opponents and a large portion of the public, argue that Biden’s presidency was marred by economic distress, policy failures, and leadership challenges:

•Inflation and Cost of Living: Although unemployment was low, the U.S. experienced the worst inflation in 40 years during Biden's term, driving up the cost of groceries, gas, and housing. Critics and conservative economists argued that Biden’s massive federal spending packages, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and fueled this inflation.

•Foreign Policy Setbacks:

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal (2021): The chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Kabul in August 2021 resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and the rapid return of the Taliban to power. This event severely damaged Biden’s public approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered.

•Middle East Tensions: Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war starting in late 2023 drew heavy criticism from both sides. Progressives and younger voters accused his administration of being complicit in humanitarian crises in Gaza, while conservatives argued he did not offer strong enough support to Israel.

•Immigration and Border Security: Biden’s administration faced historic surges of migrant crossings at the southern U.S. border. Critics accused his administration of failing to secure the border and criticized his early reversals of several Trump-era border policies, leading to immense strain on local resources in both border states and major cities.

•Concerns Over Age and Leadership: As the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, Biden faced persistent questions regarding his physical and cognitive fitness. Following a widely criticized debate performance in June 2024, mounting pressure from within his own party led Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race in July 2024. He became the first eligible incumbent president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 to forego a reelection bid.

Public Opinion and Legacy

By the time Biden left office on January 20, 2025, public sentiment toward his presidency was largely negative:

•Final Approval Ratings: Gallup reported his final job approval rating in January 2025 at 40%, while other major final polls tracked his approval between 36% and 39%.

•How History Will Judge Him: In end-of-term polling, a majority of Americans (roughly 54% to 61% depending on the poll) stated they expected history to view Biden’s presidency as "below average" or a "failure". Conversely, about a quarter of Americans viewed his term as "great" or "good".

Ultimately, whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on which aspects of his term are prioritized. Supporters see him as an incredibly consequential, transitional president who saved a fractured democracy, managed the post-pandemic recovery, and passed once-in-a-generation infrastructure and climate legislation. Critics view his term as a period of economic hardship defined by high inflation, border insecurity, and global instability.

Citations (11)

1britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of significant debate, with assessments varying widely depending on the political, economic, and social perspectives of observers.”
background, reference entry, neutral. Claim: Whether Biden was a good president is debated, with assessments varying by political, economic and social perspective.
2wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “Biden served as the 46th president of the United States from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025.”
background, reference entry, neutral. Claim: Biden served as 46th president from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025.
3axios.comNews and mediaquality 0.90
axios.com
Backs: “His legacy is marked by a notable contrast: while presidential historians and political scientists generally rank him highly for his legislative achievements, the American public gave him low approval ratings by the end of his term.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Historians rank Biden highly for legislative achievements, while the public gave him low approval ratings at end of term.
4cnn.comNews and mediaquality 0.66
cnn.com
Backs: “His legacy is marked by a notable contrast: while presidential historians and political scientists generally rank him highly for his legislative achievements, the American public gave him low approval ratings by the end of his term.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Historians rank Biden highly for legislative achievements, while the public gave him low approval ratings at end of term.
5facebook.comSocial media and video
facebook.com
Backs: “His legacy is marked by a notable contrast: while presidential historians and political scientists generally rank him highly for his legislative achievements, the American public gave him low approval ratings by the end of his term.”
evidence, other, neutral. Claim: Historians rank Biden highly for legislative achievements, while the public gave him low approval ratings at end of term.
6youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “Historic Legislative Output: Despite working with a razor-thin Democratic majority (and later a divided Congress), Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation into law: The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion stimulus package designed to facilitate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
evidence, social or video, points to yes. Claim: Biden signed several landmark laws despite a razor-thin Democratic majority and later a divided Congress.
7democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A $1 trillion bipartisan bill aimed at rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, public transit, and broadband access. The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): A bill designed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research to compete with China.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was a $1 trillion bipartisan bill to rebuild roads, bridges, transit and broadband.
8youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “Historians' Perspective: In a notable 2024 survey of presidential scholars and historians conducted by the Presidential Greatness Project, Biden was ranked as the 14th-best president in U.S. history, with experts praising his legislative productivity and his role in "restoring normalcy" to the executive branch.”
statistic, social or video, points to yes. Claim: A 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey ranked Biden 14th-best president, praising legislative productivity and restoring normalcy.
9wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “This event severely damaged Biden’s public approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered. Middle East Tensions: Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war starting in late 2023 drew heavy criticism from both sides.”
evidence, reference entry, points to no. Claim: The Afghanistan withdrawal severely damaged Biden's public approval ratings, from which they never fully recovered.
10apnorc.orgAcademic
apnorc.org
Backs: “By the time Biden left office on January 20, 2025, public sentiment toward his presidency was largely negative: Final Approval Ratings: Gallup reported his final job approval rating in January 2025 at 40%, while other major final polls tracked his approval between 36% and 39%.”
evidence, data page, points to no. Claim: By the time Biden left office, public sentiment toward his presidency was largely negative.
11gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “Final Approval Ratings: Gallup reported his final job approval rating in January 2025 at 40%, while other major final polls tracked his approval between 36% and 39%.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Gallup reported Biden's final job approval rating in January 2025 at 40%, with other polls at 36-39%.