Was Joe Biden a good president?

[1][2][3][4]No, there is no objective "yes" or "no"—it is inherently subjective and depends on one's priorities, values, political views, and which metrics matter most (e.g., economic growth vs. inflation pain, ending wars vs. execution of withdrawals, legislative output vs. border security). Public opinion, historical comparisons, and data paint a mixed-to-negative picture overall, with notable legislative and foreign policy achievements alongside significant challenges on inflation, immigration, and the Afghanistan exit. Biden left office with low approval and is often ranked near the bottom among recent presidents in contemporaneous polls.[1]

Public Opinion and Historical Standing

Biden’s average Gallup job approval rating over his term was about 42.2%, the second-lowest among post-WWII presidents (only slightly above Donald Trump’s first-term average of ~41%). He started with a honeymoon period around 54–57% in early 2021, but ratings fell after the Afghanistan withdrawal and stayed mostly in the high 30s to low 40s thereafter, never recovering above 50% after mid-2021. His final rating hovered around 37–42%.[5][1]

Ratings were extremely polarized (high among Democrats, very low among Republicans and many independents). Gallup and other polls showed majorities viewing his presidency as below average or poor by the end. Factors frequently cited in low ratings included the economy (especially inflation’s lingering effects), immigration/border, age/fitness concerns (which intensified after the 2024 debate and led him to drop his reelection bid), and foreign policy flashpoints.[6]

Major Achievements

Supporters highlight a productive legislative record despite narrow congressional majorities, strong post-COVID recovery metrics in some areas, and restoring traditional alliances:

White House fact sheets and supportive analyses emphasize manufacturing investments, lower prescription costs for some, and progress toward climate goals.[2]

Major Criticisms and Shortcomings

Critics (across parties, though more intensely from the right) point to mismanagement, unintended consequences, and failure to deliver on unity or fully address key voter concerns:

Economic Snapshot

Comparisons to prior presidents vary by metric and starting conditions (Biden inherited COVID recovery; Trump faced the pandemic onset).

Bottom Line

Biden’s presidency featured substantial legislative wins on infrastructure, technology, climate/health costs, and a generally successful (if inflationary) economic rebound from the pandemic, plus firm support for Ukraine and alliance-building. These are concrete, measurable accomplishments. However, the chaotic Afghanistan exit, prolonged high inflation’s impact on households, record border encounters, and concerns about fitness/leadership style heavily weighed on public approval and legacy perceptions. He did not seek (and could not have won) a second term after 2024 events.

Whether this makes him “good” hinges on trade-offs: Is strong job growth and major bills enough to offset cost-of-living pain and border chaos? Is ending a forever war worth a messy exit? History’s longer view (economic durability of investments, Ukraine outcome, etc.) will matter more than today’s polarized snapshots. Different people reasonably weigh the evidence differently based on what they prioritize.