Was Joe Biden a good president? I'll pull together his record, polling and historians' views to give you a balanced answer.
Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on criteria and perspective - historians, the public, and partisans evaluate his 2021-2025 presidency differently. He served as the 46th President from January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025 .
Arguments that he was effective
Supporters and some analysts point to legislative and foreign policy accomplishments despite narrow congressional majorities:
•Major domestic legislation: Biden's major legislative achievements include the American Rescue Plan ($1.9T COVID relief), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($1.2T), the CHIPS Act ($52B semiconductor investment), and the Inflation Reduction Act ($369B climate — the largest climate legislation in US history) .
•Infrastructure focus: His Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is described as rebuilding roads and bridges, removing lead pipes, and expanding high-speed internet access , while his Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in history .
•An analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations described his presidency as "one of remarkable accomplishment" against a backdrop of navigating a fractured United States through a fractured world , noting that at home he "healed an economy that had been distressed by the pandemic and put the nation on a path of sustainable growth" and abroad he "restored the United States as the anchor of the free world while leading the successful effort to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression" .
•Alliances: The same analysis notes the United States' image abroad, particularly among allies and partners, sharply rebounded almost overnight after Biden repaired relations with NATO allies.
•Other supporters note the bills collectively "helped revive the economy and spur job growth" and directed investments to regions hit hard by deindustrialization , with the Inflation Reduction Act standing out as the nation's largest investment ever in clean energy and climate action .
Criticisms and challenges
Critics point to economic and foreign policy and personal factors:
•Main criticisms include concerns about inflation, border security and immigration policies, energy policies leading to higher gas prices, handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and perceptions of ineffective leadership .
•Inflation: Inflation surged to 9.1% in 2022 under his watch, eroding wages and public trust . Inflation peaking at 9.1% and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal were described as the primary drags on his approval throughout his term .
•Immigration: Border encounters hit records (over 10 million), overwhelming systems . A separate analysis noted patrols encountered some 2.2 million migrants crossing the southern border illegally in 2022, an all-time high .
•Afghanistan: Biden withdrew U.S. troops from Afghanistan pursuant to the 2020 Doha Accords negotiated by Trump, and the Taliban swiftly retook control . Critics labeled it chaotic, resulting in 13 U.S. deaths and Taliban resurgence .
•Age and health: Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted throughout his presidency . He is the first president to turn 80 years old while in office .
His approval ratings declined significantly during his presidency, particularly over concerns about inflation and immigration .
Public opinion and historical rankings
Public and expert assessments diverge:
•Approval ratings: While Biden saw approval ratings above 50% during his first six months, rising inflation and other issues contributed to a decline . His lowest-ranking Gallup poll, in which 36% approved, came in July 2024, a month after his debate performance against Trump shifted focus toward his age and fitness for office . Other polling at the end of his term found a final approval rating of 40% and a CNN poll finding 61% believed his presidency was a failure .
•Expectations for history: Gallup found fifty-four percent of U.S. adults expect that Joe Biden will go down in history as a below-average or poor president, while 26% say he will be remembered as an average president and 19% as outstanding or above average .
•Scholarly rankings: Historians rank presidents differently. The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked Biden 19th out of 45 presidents . The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert survey ranked Biden 14th , and a February 2024 American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars also ranked Biden the 14th-greatest president . A Presidents Day survey of 154 historians and presidential experts placed Joe Biden at about 14th and ranked Trump last .
Bottom line
•If measured by legislative output, alliance restoration, and investments in infrastructure, semiconductors, and climate, supporters rate his presidency as consequential and above average.
•If measured by inflation, border management, the Afghanistan exit, and public approval, critics rate it as below average or poor.
As with most modern presidencies, scholarly assessments made close to the end of a term tend to be provisional and often change as long-term effects of policies become clearer and as partisan dynamics fade.