Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a matter of opinion and political perspective rather than a factual question I can answer definitively—reasonable people disagree based on their values, priorities, and interpretation of his record. That said, I can lay out some of the major areas of his presidency that are commonly cited in evaluations, both positive and negative, so you can weigh them yourself.
Arguments often made in his favor:
•Economic recovery: Unemployment stayed relatively low during his term, and the economy avoided a widely predicted recession despite aggressive interest rate hikes to fight inflation.
•Legislative achievements: He signed major bills including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act (boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing), and the Inflation Reduction Act (climate spending, drug price negotiation for Medicare).
•COVID-19 response: His administration oversaw widespread vaccine distribution and pandemic recovery efforts.
•Foreign policy: Supporters point to his rallying of NATO and Western allies in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
•Judicial appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
Arguments often made against him:
•Inflation: Prices rose sharply during his term, particularly in 2021-2022, which many voters blamed on his policies (including COVID stimulus spending) and which significantly hurt his approval ratings.
•Afghanistan withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, including the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a bombing, was widely criticized as poorly executed.
•Immigration and the border: Record numbers of migrant encounters at the southern border under his administration drew criticism from both parties at various points.
•Age and fitness for office: Concerns about his age and mental acuity grew throughout his term, culminating in a widely panned debate performance in June 2024 against Donald Trump that led to his withdrawal from the 2024 race.
•Approval ratings: His approval ratings were generally underwater for much of his presidency, particularly after 2021.
Ultimately, historians and the public will continue debating his legacy for years, and assessments often split sharply along partisan lines. If you want, I can go deeper into any specific policy area (economy, foreign policy, immigration, etc.) or look into more recent retrospective assessments of his presidency now that it's concluded.