Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

Assessments of Joe Biden’s presidency (2021–2025) vary widely, with evaluations differing significantly depending on political perspectives, economic conditions, and foreign policy viewpoints. Like many modern presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens, with a notable contrast between the evaluations of presidential scholars and those of the general public.

Arguments in Favor of His Presidency (The "Pros")

Supporters and defenders of Joe Biden's legacy point to several landmark legislative accomplishments, economic benchmarks, and foreign policy achievements:

•Major Legislative Achievements: Despite a highly polarized Congress and a narrow Democratic majority during his first two years, Biden signed several historic, multi-billion-dollar pieces of legislation. These included:

•The American Rescue Plan (2021): A COVID-19 relief package that funded vaccine distribution and provided direct financial aid to Americans.

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A bipartisan $1.2 trillion law aimed at rebuilding roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water systems, as well as expanding rural broadband.

•The CHIPS and Science Act (2022): Legislation to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research.

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

•Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery: Under Biden, the U.S. economy experienced rapid job growth and historically low unemployment rates (averaging under 4% for much of his term). Supporters point out that the U.S. recovered from the COVID-19 recession faster and more robustly than most other G7 nations.

•Strengthening Global Alliances: Following years of strain on traditional alliances, Biden prioritized foreign policy cooperation. He re-established U.S. leadership in international agreements (like the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization), revitalized NATO, and orchestrated a strong, unified Western coalition to support Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Judicial Appointments and Democratic Norms: Supporters praise Biden for restoring traditional administrative processes and presidential decorum. He also diversified the federal judiciary, notably appointing Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female Supreme Court Justice.

Arguments Against His Presidency (The "Cons")

Critics and opponents argue that his administration presided over significant economic hardship, foreign policy crises, and domestic mismanagement:

•High Inflation and Cost of Living: The Biden administration was heavily criticized for persistent inflation, which peaked at 9.1% in 2022—the highest rate in four decades. Critics argue that his large spending bills, particularly the American Rescue Plan, overstimulated the economy and exacerbated price increases on everyday goods, housing, and energy, deeply straining household budgets.

•Immigration and the Southern Border: The Biden administration faced intense criticism from Republicans, and eventually some Democrats, for its management of the U.S.–Mexico border. Record levels of migrant crossings overwhelmed border patrol resources and strained the social services of major cities, leading critics to call his border policies a failure.

•Foreign Policy Crises and the Afghanistan Withdrawal: The U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was widely condemned for its chaotic execution, resulting in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, leaving thousands of Afghan allies behind, and allowing the Taliban to swiftly retake control. Critics also argue his foreign policy failed to project strong deterrence, pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and his handling of the war in Gaza, which drew criticism from both the left (for not doing more to protect Palestinian civilians) and the right (for not showing unconditional support for Israel and deterrence against Iran).

•Concerns Over Age and Leadership: Concerns regarding Biden's advanced age, physical decline, and public speaking led to doubts about his ability to govern effectively. These concerns persisted throughout his term, ultimately culminating in his decision to step aside as the Democratic nominee during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Diverging Perspectives: Scholars vs. Public Opinion

A notable aspect of Biden's presidency is the gap between how he was viewed by the general public versus how he was evaluated by academic historians:

•Public Approval: For much of his term, Biden's public approval ratings hovered around 40%, placing him on par with his predecessor, Donald Trump, at the end of their respective terms. Public sentiment was heavily weighed down by immediate, day-to-day concerns like the cost of living and the border crisis.

•Scholarly Rankings: Conversely, presidential historians and political scientists have ranked his presidency more favorably. For example, in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, nearly 200 political scientists ranked Biden 14th overall out of the 45 individuals who have held the office, placing him in the top third of U.S. presidents. Scholars attributed this high ranking to his legislative efficiency in a divided Congress and his role in stabilizing democratic norms after a tumultuous transition of power.

Ultimately, whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on which aspects of his term—such as long-term investments in domestic infrastructure versus immediate economic concerns like inflation—one chooses to prioritize.

Citations (8)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Assessments of Joe Biden’s presidency (2021–2025) vary widely, with evaluations differing significantly depending on political perspectives, economic conditions, and foreign policy viewpoints. Like many modern presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens, with a notable contrast between the…”
background, other, neutral. Claim: Assessments of Biden's presidency vary widely depending on political perspective, economic conditions, and foreign policy viewpoints.
2princeton.eduAcademic
princeton.edu
Backs: “Assessments of Joe Biden’s presidency (2021–2025) vary widely, with evaluations differing significantly depending on political perspectives, economic conditions, and foreign policy viewpoints. Like many modern presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens, with a notable contrast between the…”
background, other, neutral. Claim: Assessments of Biden's presidency vary widely depending on political perspective, economic conditions, and foreign policy viewpoints.
3mediaite.comNews and mediaquality 0.65
mediaite.com
Backs: “Like many modern presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens, with a notable contrast between the evaluations of presidential scholars and those of the general public.”
background, article, neutral. Claim: Biden's legacy is viewed through a polarized lens, with contrast between scholars' and the public's evaluations.
4mynorthwest.comNews and mediaquality 0.85
mynorthwest.com
Backs: “Like many modern presidents, his legacy is viewed through a highly polarized lens, with a notable contrast between the evaluations of presidential scholars and those of the general public.”
background, article, neutral. Claim: Biden's legacy is viewed through a polarized lens, with contrast between scholars' and the public's evaluations.
5washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Major Legislative Achievements: Despite a highly polarized Congress and a narrow Democratic majority during his first two years, Biden signed several historic, multi-billion-dollar pieces of legislation. These included:”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Despite polarized Congress and narrow majority, Biden signed several historic multi-billion-dollar pieces of legislation.
6reddit.comForums and Q&A
reddit.com
Backs: “The American Rescue Plan (2021): A COVID-19 relief package that funded vaccine distribution and provided direct financial aid to Americans. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021): A bipartisan $1.2 trillion law aimed at rebuilding roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water systems, as well as expanding…”
evidence, other, points to yes. Claim: American Rescue Plan was a COVID-19 relief package funding vaccine distribution and providing direct financial aid.
7pewresearch.orgNonprofits and think tanks
pewresearch.org
Backs: “Immigration and the Southern Border: The Biden administration faced intense criticism from Republicans, and eventually some Democrats, for its management of the U.S.–Mexico border. Record levels of migrant crossings overwhelmed border patrol resources and strained the social services of major cities, leading critics…”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Biden administration faced intense criticism from Republicans and some Democrats over border management and record migrant crossings.
8uh.eduAcademic
uh.edu
Backs: “For example, in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, nearly 200 political scientists ranked Biden 14th overall out of the 45 individuals who have held the office, placing him in the top third of U.S. presidents. Scholars attributed this high ranking to his legislative efficiency in a divided Congress and…”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey, nearly 200 political scientists ranked Biden 14th of 45 presidents.