Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

Assessing the presidency of Joe Biden, who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, is a complex task. Historians, political analysts, and the public often view his tenure through a polarized lens, with evaluations depending heavily on one's economic priorities, political values, and views on foreign policy.

To understand his legacy, it is helpful to look at both the major accomplishments his supporters highlight and the significant criticisms raised by his detractors.

Arguments in Favor of Biden’s Presidency

Supporters of Joe Biden argue that his administration was one of the most productive in modern American history, successfully steering the nation through multiple crises. Key points in favor of his presidency include:

1.Major Legislative Accomplishments: Working with an evenly and narrowly divided Congress, Biden managed to pass several historic, bipartisan, and progressive pieces of legislation.

•The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Allocated roughly $1.2 trillion for upgrading the nation's roads, bridges, public transit, clean water, and high-speed internet.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research to make the U.S. less reliant on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Represented the largest federal investment in climate change mitigation and clean energy in U.S. history, while also lowering prescription drug and insulin costs for seniors.

2.Economic Recovery and Job Growth: Biden oversaw a rapid post-pandemic economic recovery characterized by historically low unemployment rates, robust job creation, and rising wages. Under his administration, the U.S. economy recovered from the COVID-19 recession faster and more strongly than almost any other major global economy.

3.Rebuilding Alliances and Supporting Allies: In foreign policy, Biden moved to restore traditional international alliances. He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and successfully rallied NATO and other global partners to support Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

4.COVID-19 Response: Inheriting the height of the COVID-19 crisis, his administration implemented a structured, logistically efficient national vaccine rollout and signed the American Rescue Plan to provide relief directly to families and local governments.

5.Return to "Normalcy": Supporters emphasize that Biden brought a sense of institutional stability, decorum, and predictable governance back to the White House following the polarization and chaos of the January 6 Capitol riot.

Criticisms of Biden’s Presidency

Critics argue that Biden’s presidency was marred by economic hardship, foreign policy missteps, and a failure to unite the country. Key criticisms include:

1.High Inflation and Cost of Living: Biden's presidency coincided with the highest inflation rates the U.S. had seen in 40 years, averaging 5.4% annually and peaking at 9.1% in mid-2022. Critics—and many economists—blame his administration's massive spending packages, particularly the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, for overstimulating the economy and driving up the cost of groceries, housing, and fuel.

2.The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The August 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan was widely criticized as chaotic and poorly planned. It resulted in the swift return of the Taliban, the tragic deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing, and the abandonment of many Afghan allies. This event marked a permanent downturn in Biden's public approval ratings.

3.Immigration and Border Security: Critics from the right heavily criticized his administration's handling of the U.S. southern border, pointing to record-high numbers of migrant crossings and arguing that his policies incentivized illegal immigration. At the same time, some progressive critics argued his eventual, more restrictive border policies went too far.

4.Foreign Policy Crises (The Middle East): Biden faced intense criticism from multiple angles regarding his foreign policy. His steadfast diplomatic and military support for Israel during its war in Gaza alienated progressives, young voters, and Arab Americans who objected to the high civilian death toll. Conversely, conservative critics argued his administration’s foreign policy was not strong enough to deter adversarial nations like Iran and China.

5.Failure to Unite the Country: Despite campaigning on a promise to "heal the soul of the nation" and bridge political divides, polarization remained exceptionally high throughout his term, and his overall job approval rating hovered around 40%.

6.Age and Political Hubris: Critics, including many within the Democratic Party, argued that Biden was too old to seek a second term. His insistence on running for re-election in 2024 before eventually stepping aside late in the campaign cycle was viewed by some as hubris that ultimately hindered his party's electoral prospects.

Conclusion

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president depends on which aspects of his term one prioritizes. From a legislative and institutional perspective, he was highly successful in enacting sweeping, long-term domestic policies aimed at rebuilding infrastructure, fighting climate change, and strengthening alliances. From a day-to-day living and stability perspective, many Americans associate his term with painful inflation, border security issues, and unsettling geopolitical conflicts abroad.

As with most presidencies, the definitive historical consensus will take decades to fully form as the long-term effects of his policies continue to play out.

Citations (5)

1port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Assessing the presidency of Joe Biden, who served as the 46th President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, is a complex task.”
background, other, neutral. Claim: Assessing Biden's presidency, which ran from 2021 to 2025, is a complex task.
2cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters of Joe Biden argue that his administration was one of the most productive in modern American history, successfully steering the nation through multiple crises. Key points in favor of his presidency include:”
attribution, other, points to yes. Claim: Supporters argue Biden's administration was one of the most productive in modern American history, steering the nation through multiple crises.
3washingtonpost.comNews and mediaquality 0.82
washingtonpost.com
Backs: “Supporters of Joe Biden argue that his administration was one of the most productive in modern American history, successfully steering the nation through multiple crises. Key points in favor of his presidency include:”
attribution, article, points to yes. Claim: Supporters argue Biden's administration was one of the most productive in modern American history, steering the nation through multiple crises.
4millercenter.orgAcademic
millercenter.org
Backs: “The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research to make the U.S. less reliant on foreign supply chains. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Represented the largest federal investment in climate change mitigation and clean energy in U.S.”
evidence, other, points to yes. Claim: The CHIPS and Science Act aimed to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
5unimelb.edu.auAcademic
unimelb.edu.au
Backs: “Return to "Normalcy": Supporters emphasize that Biden brought a sense of institutional stability, decorum, and predictable governance back to the White House following the polarization and chaos of the January 6 Capitol riot.”
attribution, other, points to yes. Claim: Supporters say Biden restored institutional stability, decorum and predictable governance after the polarization and chaos of January 6.