Was Joe Biden a good president?
Evaluating whether any president was "good" is inherently subjective and depends on one's values, priorities, and political views. I'll outline major factual aspects of Joe Biden's presidency (2021–2025), drawing on economic data, policy outcomes, crises handled, and public metrics, so you can judge for yourself.No objective "yes" or "no" exists—whether Joe Biden (46th U.S. President, January 2021–January 2025) was a "good" president is highly subjective. It depends on one's priorities (e.g., economic growth and jobs vs. inflation and cost of living; climate and infrastructure investment vs. border security and debt; alliance-building abroad vs. specific foreign policy outcomes), values, and political perspective. Partisan polarization was extreme, and his average Gallup job approval was 42.2% (second-lowest among post-WWII presidents; final readings often in the high 30s to low 40s), with many Americans viewing the term more as a failure than a success in exit polls.[1]
Biden inherited a country emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic (hundreds of thousands of U.S. deaths, economic shutdowns, high unemployment), political division after the 2020 election and January 6, and ongoing global challenges. He was a one-term president who did not seek re-election in 2024 amid concerns about age and electability. Here is a balanced factual overview of major elements, drawn from economic data, legislation, and events.
Economic Record
The recovery was strong by many traditional metrics, outperforming many peer nations and some pre-pandemic forecasts, but inflation eroded purchasing power and soured public perception for much of the term.[2]
Macro indicators looked strong by the end ("as good as it gets" in some economist descriptions), but many households felt squeezed by higher prices, which heavily influenced 2024 politics.[8]
Major Domestic Legislation and Policies
With narrow congressional majorities early on, Biden passed significant bills (often via reconciliation or bipartisan votes), more consequential domestic legislation than many recent presidents in a short window:
Larger "Build Back Better" ambitions were scaled back. Crime rates (violent/property in some national data) declined during parts of the term.
Foreign Policy and Crises
Immigration and Border
A major vulnerability: Southwest border encounters hit record highs (millions annually in peak years; total encounters often cited in the 8–11 million range across the term, plus gotaways). This strained resources, cities (e.g., migrant busing), and public opinion. Early policy shifts (ending some Trump-era measures) coincided with the surge; later executive actions, asylum restrictions, and the CBP One app/parole programs reduced crossings significantly in 2024, but the overall scale remained a core criticism. Legal immigration/naturalizations also rose.[13]
Overall Context and Legacy Notes
Biden’s team emphasized "normalcy," competence, and long-term investments (infrastructure, chips, climate, alliances) after turbulence. Supporters highlight the post-COVID rebound, legislative productivity despite thin margins, Ukraine leadership, and social safety net expansions. Critics emphasize inflation’s pain, border chaos, Afghanistan optics, rising debt, perceived decline in presidential vigor, and cultural/foreign policy flashpoints (including Gaza). Some achievements (e.g., temporary poverty reductions) proved fleeting without permanence.
Presidents are often judged by successors’ continuity, long-term effects (e.g., whether IRA climate investments pay off, Ukraine’s trajectory, chip fabs built), and historical reappraisal—early takes are incomplete. Economic data can look strong while lived experience (prices, immigration visibility) drives sentiment. Comparisons to Trump’s first term or others depend heavily on which metrics and timeframes (pre-/post-COVID) one emphasizes.
In short, Biden was a consequential president with clear wins in recovery metrics, major bills, and certain foreign policy areas, alongside clear shortcomings on inflation control early on, border management for most of the term, the Afghanistan exit, and political standing. "Good" is in the eye of the beholder—review primary data (BLS, BEA, CBO, CBP stats) and decide based on what matters most to you.
Citations (13)
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/655298/biden-job-approval-second-lowest-among-post-wwii-presidents.aspx
Backs: “specific foreign policy outcomes), values, and political perspective. Partisan polarization was extreme, and his average Gallup job approval was 42.2% (second-lowest among post-WWII presidents; final readings often in the high 30s to low 40s), with many Americans viewing the term more as a failure than a success in…”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Biden's average Gallup job approval was 42.2%, second-lowest among post-WWII presidents.
- https://factcheckorg.substack.com/p/bidens-final-numbers
Backs: “Here is a balanced factual overview of major elements, drawn from economic data, legislation, and events.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Recovery was strong by many metrics, but inflation eroded purchasing power and soured public perception; CPI peaked at 9.1%.
- https://presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-record
Backs: “Jobs and unemployment: The economy added roughly 16+ million jobs (with job gains every month of the administration in some tallies).”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: Economy added roughly 16+ million jobs; unemployment fell; American Rescue Plan and COVID vaccination expansion.
- https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/10/30/gdp-issue-brief/
Backs: “Unemployment fell from ~6.7% at the start to a low of 3.4% (near 50-year lows) and averaged low overall (~4.1% late-term), with strong gains for various demographic group”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: Real GDP grew solidly, with the economy larger than many pre-pandemic projections.
- https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/19/economy/us-biden-economic-legacy
Backs: “GDP and growth: Real GDP grew solidly (cumulative ~12.6% in some administration figures; annual rates often 2.5%+), with the economy larger than many pre-pandemic projections.”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: Stock indexes set records and new business applications hit record levels.
- https://theconversation.com/joe-bidens-legacy-four-successes-and-four-failures-246454
Backs: “Record new business applications. Wages, poverty, health insurance: Real wages eventually grew (especially for lower-wage workers in some periods); child poverty hit historic lows temporarily via expanded Child Tax Credit (later expired); uninsured rates declined somewhat; ACA enrollment rose significantly.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Real wages grew, child poverty hit lows temporarily, uninsured rates declined, ACA enrollment rose.
- https://govargus.com/presidents/biden/national-debt
Backs: “Debt: National debt rose by roughly $8.4–8.5 trillion (from ~$27.8T to ~$36.2T), driven by pandemic residual spending, new legislation, interest costs, and deficits.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: National debt rose by roughly $8.4–8.5 trillion during Biden's term.
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/20/biden-presidency-legacy-policies
Backs: “This was a large dollar increase, though percentage terms and comparisons to prior terms va”
attribution, article, neutral. Claim: Macro indicators looked strong by the end, but households felt squeezed by higher prices, influencing 2024 politics.
- https://nytimes.com/2025/01/15/us/politics/biden-presidential-legacy-trump.html
Backs: “American Rescue Plan (2021, ~$1.9T): COVID relief, stimulus checks, expanded unemployment/Child Tax Credit, vaccine support. Aided recovery but criticized for contributing to inflation.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Infrastructure law, Inflation Reduction Act provisions, and the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
- https://www.cfr.org/articles/bidens-legacy-major-accomplishments-unfinished-business
Backs: “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021, ~$1T bipartisan): Roads, bridges, broadband, water, transit—long-sought modernization.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: CHIPS Act and Ukraine response with aid, sanctions, and NATO strengthening.
- https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-d213afe3ea69da3c6b9e713c7dc16a9a
Backs: “Other: First major federal gun safety law in decades (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act); efforts on student loans (broad forgiveness plan struck down by Supreme Court; ~$180B+ canceled for 5+ million via expanded existing programs like PSLF, disability, borrower defense, IDR); judicial appointments including Justice…”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Student loan forgiveness plan struck down by Supreme Court, but ~$180B canceled via existing programs.
- https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/what-was-joe-biden-doctrine-leadership-hegemony-jessica-mathews
Backs: “Middle East/China/other: Strong support for Israel after October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks (with tensions over Gaza humanitarian issues and U.S.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Support for Israel after October 7, China competition, restored alliances, mixed results on rules-based order.
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2024/02/11/trump-biden-immigration-border-compared/
Backs: “This strained resources, cities (e.g., migrant busing), and public opinion. Early policy shifts (ending some Trump-era measures) coincided with the surge; later executive actions, asylum restrictions, and the CBP One app/parole programs reduced crossings significantly in 2024, but the overall scale remained a core…”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Record border encounters strained resources, though later executive actions reduced crossings in 2024.