Was Joe Biden a good president?

Both sidesSays it is contested

Was Biden's presidency judged a success? I'll gather balanced evaluations of his record, ratings, and legacy.

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is subjective and depends on which issues and outcomes an observer prioritizes. Public and historical assessments generally place the Biden administration in a mixed range, with historians ranking him higher than contemporary public polling did.

Who he was and how long he served

Joe Biden served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025), before declining to seek re-election in July 2024 after debate performance concerns about his fitness.

Arguments supporters cite - Major legislative and policy achievements

The White House stated that President Biden accomplished more for the American people in four years than most Presidents have in eight. Specific achievements cited include:

•Economic recovery from COVID-19: The administration pointed to having the strongest economy in the world and creating a record 16 million new jobs, with wages up and inflation coming down. It also passed the American Rescue Plan.

•Infrastructure: His Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is rebuilding our roads and bridges, removing lead pipes, and expanding high-speed internet access. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021) allocated $1 trillion for roads, bridges, broadband, and public transit, described elsewhere as a bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package.

•Climate and health care: His Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in climate action in history. The law represented the largest federal investment in clean energy and climate action in American history, and invested $370 billion in clean energy — the largest climate commitment in U.S. history — while capping insulin costs, allowing Medicare drug price negotiations.

•Technology manufacturing: His CHIPS and Science Act is making cutting-edge technology here in America with American workers.

•Other cited wins: Lowering prescription drug costs, more people with health insurance than ever before, most significant climate law ever and the first major gun safety law in 30 years, and the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

On foreign policy, the administration is credited with restoring alliances abroad, particularly during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rallying the world to stand up to Putin's aggression and expanding NATO.

Historian evaluations

Among historians, Biden is ranked:

•Middle-to-high among modern presidents — In the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project, he ranked 14th.

•Scholars note that Biden's presidency is still somewhat "in progress" in terms of historical judgment. But they credit him for restoring a more traditional presidential style after Trump, and for stabilizing institutions.

Arguments critics cite - Challenges and low public approval

•Approval ratings: Gallup reported that Biden averaged 42.2% job approval across his four years, placing him as the second‑lowest average in Gallup's post‑World War II history. His presidency ended with approval ratings in the low 40s, hovering around the low 40s percentile, with a Final approval rating: 40% when he left office. Biden began his term with over 50% approval ratings; however, these fell significantly after the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

•Inflation and cost of living: When Biden entered office in January 2021, annual consumer inflation stood at 1.4%. By June 2022, it had surged to 9.1%, the highest rate in roughly four decades. That figure is also described as the highest 12‑month increase in more than four decades. From December 2020 to December 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 21.3% overall.

•Immigration / Border: Critics pointed to historically heavy migration at the southern border. In December 2023 alone, CBP recorded 302,034 southwest-border encounters.

•Afghanistan: His presidency was marred by a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

•Age and health concerns: Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted throughout his presidency. He is the first president to turn 80 years old while in office.

Public assessments at the end of his term often linked these factors — particularly frustration over inflation — to negative views of his presidency.

Summary

•Supporters emphasize pandemic recovery, large legislative wins on infrastructure, climate, semiconductors and health care, job growth, and alliance restoration.

•Critics emphasize the inflation surge, immigration levels, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and age-related concerns, which kept his public approval low.

•Historians, at least in early rankings, have placed him above average (14th) while noting his legacy is still being assessed — reflecting a divide between expert judgment and contemporary public opinion.

Citations (2)

1archives.govGovernment
Joe Biden: The President | The White House
Backs: “Joe Biden served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025), before declining to seek re-election in July 2024 after debate performance concerns about his fitness. Arguments supporters cite - Major legislative and policy achievements. The White House stated that President Biden accomplished more for the…”
attribution, official document, points to yes. Claim: The White House stated Biden accomplished more in four years than most presidents do in eight, citing economic, infrastructure, climate and other achievements.
2quinnscommentary.netNot yet classified
President Ranking / Reputation Among Historians during the modern era. Why They Are Viewed That Way
Backs: “On foreign policy, the administration is credited with restoring alliances abroad, particularly during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rallying the world to stand up to Putin's aggression and expanding NATO. Historian evaluations. Among historians, Biden is ranked:”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Historians rank Biden middle-to-high among modern presidents, 14th in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project, though his legacy is still being assessed.