Was Joe Biden a good president?

Assessing whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a complex question with no single consensus. Like many presidencies, his term—which concluded in January 2025—is viewed differently depending on one's political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views.

To provide a balanced overview, his presidency can be analyzed through his major achievements, the primary criticisms he faced, and how both historians and the public view his legacy.

Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (Achievements)

Supporters and positive historical assessments often point to several key accomplishments, particularly in domestic legislation and foreign alliances:

1.Major Legislative Successes: Working with a highly polarized and narrowly divided Congress, the Biden administration passed some of the most significant domestic policy bills in decades. These included:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A massive pandemic relief package.

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A historic, bipartisan law aimed at rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water systems.

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

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): A landmark climate, healthcare, and tax package focused on lowering prescription drug costs and making the largest-ever federal investment in green energy.

2.Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: Under Biden’s term, the U.S. experienced record-breaking job creation and historically low unemployment rates. Proponents note that the U.S. economy recovered from the COVID-19 recession faster and more robustly than almost any other G7 nation.

3.Rebuilding Foreign Alliances: Following years of strain on international relationships, Biden focused on restoring traditional alliances. Under his leadership, the U.S. successfully rallied NATO and other global partners to provide unified, sustained military and financial support to Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion.

4.COVID-19 Management: The administration was credited with implementing an organized national vaccine distribution program and guiding the country out of the peak of the public health emergency.

Arguments Against His Presidency (Criticisms and Setbacks)

Critics and negative historical assessments highlight persistent domestic issues, foreign policy failures, and the circumstances surrounding the end of his political career:

1.High Inflation and Cost of Living: Although job growth was strong, the Biden administration presided over a period of high inflation, which averaged over 5% per year and peaked at 9.1% in 2022. Critics argue that the massive spending in the American Rescue Plan fueled this inflation, which deeply strained household budgets and eroded public confidence in his handling of the economy.

2.Immigration and Border Security: The southern U.S. border faced record-high numbers of migrant crossings during Biden's presidency. Critics from both the right and the left faulted his administration’s border policies, with opponents accusing him of failing to secure the border and progressives criticizing his eventual implementation of stricter asylum limits.

3.The Afghanistan Withdrawal: In August 2021, the U.S. completed its military exit from Afghanistan. The withdrawal was widely criticized as chaotic and poorly planned, resulting in the rapid return of the Taliban and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing. Many political analysts point to this event as the moment from which Biden's public approval ratings never fully recovered.

4.Foreign Policy Crises: Critics point to a more unstable global landscape during his presidency, pointing not only to the war in Ukraine but also to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. His administration faced domestic backlash from both sides of the political aisle—progressives criticized his support of Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while conservatives argued his foreign policy lacked sufficient deterrence.

5.Age, Mental Acuity, and Political Exit: Concerns about Biden's physical decline and mental acuity persisted throughout his term. These concerns came to a head during a televised debate in June 2024, leading to immense pressure from his own party that ultimately forced him to withdraw his bid for re-election. Critics argue his initial insistence on running for a second term, despite warning signs, was a failure of leadership that negatively impacted his party's prospects.

Historical and Public Reception

Public perception of Joe Biden's presidency remains deeply polarized. During his time in office, his approval ratings consistently hovered around 40%. Polls conducted toward the end of his presidency reflected this divide: while a substantial portion of Democrats view him as a highly accomplished leader who successfully guided the country through a period of crisis, a majority of Republicans and independents view his tenure as a failure characterized by economic anxiety and global instability.

Ultimately, historians often describe Biden’s presidency as a "tale of two halves". On one hand, he achieved a remarkably productive legislative record that may reshape American infrastructure and energy for a generation; on the other hand, his legacy remains heavily overshadowed by inflation, immigration challenges, and a turbulent political exit.

Citations (7)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Like many presidencies, his term—which concluded in January 2025—is viewed differently depending on one's political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views. To provide a balanced overview, his presidency can be analyzed through his major achievements, the primary criticisms he faced, and how both…”
2princeton.eduAcademic
princeton.edu
Backs: “Like many presidencies, his term—which concluded in January 2025—is viewed differently depending on one's political perspective, economic priorities, and foreign policy views. To provide a balanced overview, his presidency can be analyzed through his major achievements, the primary criticisms he faced, and how both…”
3washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “To provide a balanced overview, his presidency can be analyzed through his major achievements, the primary criticisms he faced, and how both historians and the public view his legacy.”
4floridapolitics.comNot yet classified
floridapolitics.com
Backs: “Under his leadership, the U.S. successfully rallied NATO and other global partners to provide unified, sustained military and financial support to Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion. COVID-19 Management: The administration was credited with implementing an organized national vaccine distribution program and…”
5unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “These concerns came to a head during a televised debate in June 2024, leading to immense pressure from his own party that ultimately forced him to withdraw his bid for re-election. Critics argue his initial insistence on running for a second term, despite warning signs, was a failure of leadership that negatively…”
6millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “Critics argue his initial insistence on running for a second term, despite warning signs, was a failure of leadership that negatively impacted his party's prospects. ---. Historical and Public Reception”
7gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “Public perception of Joe Biden's presidency remains deeply polarized. During his time in office, his approval ratings consistently hovered around 40%.”