Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good president" is a matter of opinion and depends heavily on which values, policies, and criteria you prioritize. Rather than giving you my own verdict, let me lay out the major points on both sides so you can weigh them yourself.This is fundamentally a question of political values and priorities, so there's no single objective answer—reasonable people disagree sharply. Here's a balanced picture of the evidence and arguments on both sides:

Arguments that he was a good/effective president

Legislative accomplishments: Joe Biden's presidency delivered several high-profile legislative wins—most notably the 2021 American Rescue Plan, a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law, and expanded drug-pricing and industrial policy measures. Supporters point to the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act as major investments in clean energy and domestic manufacturing.

Economy: he succeeded in passing a $1.9 trillion economic relief plan, which included direct financial assistance to households, accelerated vaccination efforts, and support for businesses. This plan not only helped reduce unemployment from 6.4% in early 2021 to 3.6% in 2023. Biden was the first president under whom jobs were created during every month in office, with 2.23 million jobs created in the final year of his term. On fiscal policy, supporters assert that Biden inherited a pandemic crisis and enacted vital stimulus spending to resuscitate the economy, undertook key investments in long-neglected areas, defended Social Security and Medicare against cuts, and still left with a smaller budget deficit than the one he inherited.

Foreign policy and institutions: Biden got more federal judges confirmed than any president in a single term (save Jimmy Carter), and his steadfast support for Ukraine and NATO expansion, at a time of creeping autocracy in Europe, was seen by some as heroic. NATO expanded during his presidency, with Finland joining in April 2023 and Sweden in March 2024.

Arguments that he fell short

Approval ratings: Historically, his numbers were poor. Biden averaged 42.2% job approval during his four years as president, the second lowest in Gallup polling history. As he left office, only a quarter of the public viewed him as a great or good president, with half of Democrats saying so compared with only 10% of independents and 4% of Republicans.

Perceived failures: Critics cite concerns over border security, the state of the economy, and his decision to run for reelection in 2024. The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 was widely criticized across the political spectrum and raised doubts about his competence as commander-in-chief. Inflation was a persistent drag—critics believe the economy was already reopening from the pandemic when Biden took office and that his programs only served to raise inflation.

The 2024 decision: Christopher Borick of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion noted that if Biden had announced his decision not to run in early-to-mid 2023, he could have been "heralded for statesmanship and selflessness." Instead, his late withdrawal and the fallout from his debate performance against Trump badly damaged his standing.

The historians' take

A Princeton historical review captured the split well: his domestic legislative achievements were hailed by some as the most momentous of any American presidency since the Great Society while his foreign policy ably met challenges posed by great power rivals—yet by late 2024, Biden's legacy was in tatters, overshadowed by immigration, inflation, the war in Gaza, and the president's obvious physical decline.

Bottom line: There's a real case for substantial legislative and economic accomplishments, alongside a real case for serious failures in execution, communication, and judgment (especially around the 2024 campaign). Where you land likely depends on how you weigh policy achievements against crisis management, economic pain (inflation) against economic resilience (jobs), and institutional stability against immigration and foreign policy controversies. I'd encourage you to weigh these factors according to what matters most to you rather than looking for a single "correct" verdict.