Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of ongoing debate among historians, political analysts, and the public. Evaluations of his presidency, which concluded in January 2025, are highly polarized, often reflecting deep partisan divisions.

While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.

An overview of the arguments on both sides of his legacy highlights these differing perspectives.

Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (Achievements)

Supporters and progressive analysts argue that Biden’s presidency was one of the most productive legislative eras in modern history, particularly given his thin majorities in Congress.

•Major Domestic Legislation: Biden successfully signed several landmark, multi-billion-dollar pieces of legislation:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package aimed at stabilizing the economy, funding vaccine distribution, and supporting families.

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021): A historic $1.2 trillion investment to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, public transit, clean water systems, and broadband access.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (2022): The largest federal investment in climate and clean energy in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy experienced a rapid recovery, characterized by historically low unemployment rates and significant job growth.

•Strengthening International Alliances: Abroad, Biden prioritized repairing relationships with traditional allies, strengthening NATO, and leading a unified global coalition to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Judicial Appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and successfully confirmed a record number of diverse federal judges.

Arguments Against His Presidency (Criticisms and Failures)

Critics, including conservatives and many independent voters, argue that his policies worsened domestic challenges and weakened the U.S. position globally.

•Inflation and the Cost of Living: Opponents heavily blamed Biden’s large spending packages, such as the American Rescue Plan, for fueling high inflation. The subsequent rise in interest rates and cost of living (particularly for food, housing, and fuel) became a major source of public dissatisfaction throughout his term.

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The August 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was widely criticized as chaotic and poorly planned. It led to the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, the return of the Taliban to power, and a terrorist attack that killed 13 U.S. service members.

•Immigration and Border Security: Biden faced heavy criticism from Republicans and moderate Democrats for his administration's handling of the southern border. Record numbers of migrant crossings strained local resources across the country and became a major political liability.

•Unresolved Political Polarization: Despite taking office with a promise to unite the country and "restore the soul of the nation," deep political polarization persisted. Many critics felt his administration's policies failed to bridge partisan divides.

•Age and Party Politics: Concerns about Biden's age (ending his term at 82) and leadership capabilities persisted throughout his presidency. Following a difficult debate performance in June 2024, pressure from within his own party led him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

Scholarly vs. Public Evaluations

Assessments of Biden’s legacy differ sharply depending on whether you look at the views of academic experts or the general public:

•Scholarly Consensus: In surveys of presidential historians and political scientists (such as the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey), Biden was ranked 14th overall out of the 45 individuals who have served as president. This placed him in the top third of U.S. presidents, with scholars praising his legislative achievements, defense of democratic institutions, and restoration of international alliances.

•Public Opinion: Conversely, the general public held a much more negative view as his term drew to a close. Gallup and AP-NORC polls in January 2025 showed Biden leaving office with an approval rating around 39%. About 54% of Americans polled expected history to judge his presidency as "below average" or "poor," compared to only 19% who believed he would be remembered as "outstanding" or "above average".

Ultimately, whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on what a person prioritizes: supporters point to a massive, long-term legislative legacy and stable foreign alliances, while critics point to the immediate economic pain of inflation, challenges at the southern border, and a highly polarized nation.

Citations (14)

1unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.”
2uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.”
3moderndiplomacy.euNews and media
moderndiplomacy.eu
Backs: “While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.”
4reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.”
5gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “While scholars and presidential historians have generally rated his legislative record and preservation of democratic norms favorably, public opinion has been much more critical, largely driven by concerns over inflation, immigration, and global instability.”
6cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters and progressive analysts argue that Biden’s presidency was one of the most productive legislative eras in modern history, particularly given his thin majorities in Congress.”
7noahpinion.blogBlogs and newsletters
noahpinion.blog
Backs: “Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy experienced a rapid recovery, characterized by historically low unemployment rates and significant job growth. Strengthening International Alliances: Abroad, Biden prioritized repairing relationships with traditional allies,…”
8port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Strengthening International Alliances: Abroad, Biden prioritized repairing relationships with traditional allies, strengthening NATO, and leading a unified global coalition to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion. Judicial Appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the…”
9businessinsider.comNews and mediaquality 0.80
businessinsider.com
Backs: “Judicial Appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and successfully confirmed a record number of diverse federal judges.”
10democratsabroad.orgNonprofits and think tanks
democratsabroad.org
Backs: “Judicial Appointments: He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and successfully confirmed a record number of diverse federal judges.”
11apnorc.orgAcademic
apnorc.org
Backs: “Critics, including conservatives and many independent voters, argue that his policies worsened domestic challenges and weakened the U.S. position globally. Inflation and the Cost of Living: Opponents heavily blamed Biden’s large spending packages, such as the American Rescue Plan, for fueling high inflation.”
12latimes.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
latimes.com
Backs: “The subsequent rise in interest rates and cost of living (particularly for food, housing, and fuel) became a major source of public dissatisfaction throughout his term. The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The August 2021 U.S.”
13youtube.comSocial media and video
youtube.com
Backs: “Age and Party Politics: Concerns about Biden's age (ending his term at 82) and leadership capabilities persisted throughout his presidency. Following a difficult debate performance in June 2024, pressure from within his own party led him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.”
14newsweek.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
newsweek.com
Backs: “Scholarly Consensus: In surveys of presidential historians and political scientists (such as the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey), Biden was ranked 14th overall out of the 45 individuals who have served as president. This placed him in the top third of U.S.”