Was Joe Biden a good president?
No, there is no objective yes-or-no answer—assessments of whether Joe Biden was a "good" president are inherently subjective and heavily polarized along partisan lines. Public opinion at the end of his term (January 2021–January 2025) was largely negative, his average approval ratings were historically low, and majorities expected history to view his presidency unfavorably. At the same time, he oversaw significant legislative achievements, a strong post-COVID economic recovery by many metrics, and key foreign policy actions, though these were overshadowed for many by inflation, the Afghanistan withdrawal, immigration challenges, and concerns about his age and fitness.[1][2]
Public Opinion and Approval Ratings
Biden entered office with relatively high approval (mid-to-high 50s) amid optimism about ending the COVID-19 pandemic, but ratings declined sharply after the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and the subsequent surge in inflation, rarely recovering above the low-to-mid 40s.[3]
Views were extremely partisan: Democrats were far more positive (though even many rated him average rather than outstanding), while Republicans were overwhelmingly negative and independents leaned critical. Concerns over the economy/inflation, immigration, and his age/mental fitness were persistent drags.[1]
Key Achievements
Supporters highlight a consequential domestic legislative record (especially early on, with narrow Democratic majorities) and crisis management:
Many of these (infrastructure, chips, climate investments) were designed for longer-term effects and had bipartisan or substantial private-sector follow-on investment.
Major Criticisms and Challenges
Critics (and many voters) pointed to:
Economic Context in Brief
The U.S. experienced a rapid rebound from the COVID recession with strong job and growth numbers relative to many peers, low unemployment, and manufacturing/investment boosts from policy. However, the inflation spike was the dominant lived experience for many households and a key reason for low approval on economic handling. By the end, inflation had cooled, unemployment remained relatively low, and growth continued, but cumulative price increases and earlier pain lingered in public memory.[21][16]
Bottom Line
Biden was a consequential one-term president who passed major bills on infrastructure, climate, semiconductors, and pandemic relief, managed a strong (if inflationary) recovery, and navigated major international crises with mixed results. His tenure is unlikely to be remembered as highly successful by most Americans based on contemporaneous and exit polls, ranking near the bottom in recent historical comparisons of public esteem. Historians may revise views over time as longer-term effects of investments materialize (or not) and as comparisons to successors emerge—similar to how some past low-approval presidents saw reassessments.[22]
Whether that equates to “good” depends on what one prioritizes: legislative productivity and certain progressive/climate/industrial goals versus inflation control, border security, foreign policy execution, personal vigor, and electoral success. Partisan affiliation remains the strongest predictor of individual judgments. For the fullest picture, review primary data from Gallup, Pew, AP-NORC, economic statistics (BLS, BEA), and the specific legislation.
Citations (22)
- https://cbsnews.com/news/biden-presidency-opinion-poll-2025-01-19
Backs: “At the same time, he oversaw significant legislative achievements, a strong post-COVID economic recovery by many metrics, and key foreign policy actions, though these were overshadowed for many by inflation, the Afghanistan withdrawal, immigration challenges, and concerns about his age and fitness.”
- https://newsweek.com/joe-biden-approval-rating-presidency-2017585
Backs: “At the same time, he oversaw significant legislative achievements, a strong post-COVID economic recovery by many metrics, and key foreign policy actions, though these were overshadowed for many by inflation, the Afghanistan withdrawal, immigration challenges, and concerns about his age and fitness.”
- https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/joseph-r-biden-public-approval
Backs: “Biden entered office with relatively high approval (mid-to-high 50s) amid optimism about ending the COVID-19 pandemic, but ratings declined sharply after the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and the subsequent surge in inflation, rarely recovering above the low-to-mid 40s.”
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/655298/biden-job-approval-second-lowest-among-post-wwii-presidents.aspx
Backs: “Gallup’s average job approval across his full term was 42.2%, the second-lowest in their post-WWII polling history (just above Donald Trump’s first-term average of 41.1%). His final ratings hovered around 37–40%.”
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/as-term-nears-its-end-biden-presidency-viewed-less-favorably-by-americans-than-trump-or-obama-ap-norc-poll-finds
Backs: “An AP-NORC poll near the end of his term found only about 25% of Americans described him as a “good” or “great” president (less than 10% “great”), while roughly 47% said “poor” or “terrible,” and about 28% “average.” This was lower than views of Trump at the end of his first term or Obama at the end of his.”
- https://apnews.com/article/biden-poll-low-ratings-obama-trump-390f25a858bf4cdec28719a2fe17b525
Backs: “An AP-NORC poll near the end of his term found only about 25% of Americans described him as a “good” or “great” president (less than 10% “great”), while roughly 47% said “poor” or “terrible,” and about 28% “average.” This was lower than views of Trump at the end of his first term or Obama at the end of his.”
- https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3279544/majority-believe-biden-presidency-wont-be-remembered-favorably-poll/
Backs: “A Gallup poll found 54% expected history to rate him “below average” or “poor” (37% poor), versus 19% “outstanding” or “above average,” with 26% average—figures closest to Richard Nixon’s among recent presidents.”
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/654878/americans-think-history-rate-biden-presidency-negatively.aspx
Backs: “A Gallup poll found 54% expected history to rate him “below average” or “poor” (37% poor), versus 19% “outstanding” or “above average,” with 26% average—figures closest to Richard Nixon’s among recent presidents.”
- https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/administration-fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-record
Backs: “Vaccination rates rose dramatically from low levels at inauguration; the acute phase of the pandemic ended.”
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/what-were-joe-bidens-biggest-achievements-and-failures-as-president/articleshow/111932432.cms
Backs: “Vaccination rates rose dramatically from low levels at inauguration; the acute phase of the pandemic ended.”
- https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/bidens-legacy-major-accomplishments-unfinished-business
Backs: “The CHIPS and Science Act invested in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.”
- https://nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/politics/biden-presidential-legacy-trump.html
Backs: “The CHIPS and Science Act invested in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.”
- https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/joe-biden-president-good-bad-legacy-1235240727/
Backs: “The Inflation Reduction Act was the largest U.S. climate investment in history (hundreds of billions for clean energy, EVs, etc.), rejoined the Paris Agreement, allowed Medicare to negotiate some drug prices, and capped insulin costs for seniors.”
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/11/01/how-the-economy-really-fared-under-bidenharris-and-trump-from-jobs-to-inflation-final-update/
Backs: “Real wages eventually recovered after initial inflation hits in some analyses.”
- https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/12/11/setting-the-record-straight-benchmarking-the-biden-years/
Backs: “Real wages eventually recovered after initial inflation hits in some analyses.”
- https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-biden-economy-just-how-good-was-it-heres-the-highs-and-lows-of-the-46th-president-4d61e20e
Backs: “Real wages eventually recovered after initial inflation hits in some analyses.”
- https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2024/joe-biden-accomplishments-compromises-failures-president/
Backs: “First Black woman Supreme Court justice (Ketanji Brown Jackson); expanded healthcare access/enrollment; partial student debt relief; support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion (bolstering NATO); ending the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan (fulfilling a long-standing goal, though execution was criticized).”
- https://www.factcheck.org/2024/07/bidens-numbers-july-2024-update/
Backs: “Global factors (supply chains, energy, Ukraine war) played roles, but large fiscal stimulus was also cited. Inflation later moderated significantly (to ~2–3% range).”
- https://theconversation.com/joe-bidens-legacy-four-successes-and-four-failures-246454
Backs: “Global factors (supply chains, energy, Ukraine war) played roles, but large fiscal stimulus was also cited. Inflation later moderated significantly (to ~2–3% range).”
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/us-politics/joe-biden-successes-failures-as-us-president-b1204148.html
Backs: “Record levels of encounters/crossings at the southern border for much of the term, creating perceptions of a crisis (though numbers later declined with policy changes).”
- https://www.aei.org/economics/the-biden-harris-macroeconomic-record-is-getting-a-bum-rap/
Backs: “By the end, inflation had cooled, unemployment remained relatively low, and growth continued, but cumulative price increases and earlier pain lingered in public memory.”
- https://history.princeton.edu/about/publications/presidency-joseph-r-biden-first-historical-assessment
Backs: “Historians may revise views over time as longer-term effects of investments materialize (or not) and as comparisons to successors emerge—similar to how some past low-approval presidents saw reassessments.”