Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is fundamentally a matter of political opinion and values rather than a factual question I can answer definitively. People reasonably disagree based on their priorities, values, and interpretation of outcomes. That said, I can lay out some of the major areas of his presidency that are typically cited by supporters and critics, and you can weigh them yourself.
Areas often cited positively by supporters:
•Economic recovery: Low unemployment for much of his term, significant job growth, and legislation like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (which included major climate and healthcare provisions).
•COVID-19 response: Expanded vaccine distribution and economic relief through the American Rescue Plan.
•Foreign policy coalition-building: Rallying NATO and Western allies in support of Ukraine after Russia's invasion.
•Judicial appointments: Including the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Areas often cited negatively by critics:
•Inflation: A sharp rise in inflation during 2021-2023, which significantly raised costs of living and became a major political liability.
•Afghanistan withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. exit in August 2021, including the Kabul airport attack that killed 13 U.S. service members, was widely criticized across the political spectrum.
•Immigration/border policy: Record numbers of migrant encounters at the southern border and criticism over enforcement policy.
•Age and fitness for office: Growing concerns about his age and mental acuity, which became a major issue, particularly after his debate performance against Trump in June 2024, ultimately contributing to him dropping out of the 2024 race.
•Israel-Gaza war: Criticism from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps over his handling of the conflict following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Historians and the public will likely debate his legacy for years, and formal historical rankings (like presidential surveys) typically take time to stabilize after a president leaves office. If you want, I can look into how specific recent polls or historian surveys have rated him, or dig deeper into any particular policy area.