Was Joe Biden a good president?

Whether Joe Biden was a "good" president is a subject of ongoing debate among historians, political analysts, and the public. His single-term presidency (2021–2025) is widely viewed as highly consequential, but opinions on his success are deeply divided along partisan lines.

Supporters point to a historic slate of legislative achievements and a resilient post-pandemic economy, while critics focus on high inflation, border security issues, and foreign policy challenges.

The Case for a Successful Presidency (The Accomplishments)

Supporters and center-left historians argue that Biden was one of the most effective legislative presidents in modern history, particularly given his razor-thin congressional majorities. Key achievements include:

•Major Domestic Legislation: Biden signed several landmark pieces of legislation that aimed to rebuild American infrastructure and manufacturing. These include:

•The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A massive, bipartisan investment in roads, bridges, public transit, and clean water.

•The CHIPS and Science Act: Aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

•The Inflation Reduction Act: The largest federal investment in clean energy and climate change initiatives in U.S. history, which also allowed Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.

•Economic Recovery: Under his administration, the U.S. recovered rapidly from the COVID-19 economic downturn. Unemployment rates dropped to historic lows, and the economy experienced robust job creation and GDP growth.

•Pandemic Management: Upon taking office, Biden oversaw a massive, coordinated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and implemented clear public health strategies that helped transition the country out of the pandemic emergency.

•Strengthening Foreign Alliances: Biden repaired traditional alliances—particularly NATO—which had been strained. He successfully united Western allies to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.

•Judicial Diversity: His administration successfully appointed a highly diverse group of federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

The Case Against a Successful Presidency (The Criticisms)

Critics, including conservatives and many independents, argue that his policy decisions exacerbated national struggles and weakened the country's standing. Key criticisms include:

•High Inflation: While the economy grew, it was plagued by high inflation, which averaged over 5% during his term and peaked at 9.1% in 2022. Critics argue that his $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan overstimulated the economy and drove up the cost of everyday necessities like groceries, gas, and housing.

•Immigration and Border Security: The southern U.S. border saw record-breaking surges of migrants during Biden's term. Critics blamed his early rollbacks of Trump-era border policies for creating a humanitarian and security crisis that his administration struggled to manage.

•The Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021—which resulted in the swift return of the Taliban and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members—severely damaged Biden’s reputation for competence and foreign policy expertise.

•Unfulfilled Promise of Unity: Biden campaigned on a promise to "heal the soul of the nation" and bridge political divides. However, political polarization in the U.S. remained as deep as ever during his term, with both sides accusing the other of undermining democratic norms.

•Political Handover and the 2024 Election: Biden's insistence on running for re-election, followed by his late withdrawal from the race in July 2024 following a poorly received debate, left Vice President Kamala Harris with very little time to campaign. Critics argue his hubris in running again ultimately paved the way for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

Public Perception and Legacy

As Biden prepared to leave office in January 2025, public sentiment was largely negative:

•Approval Ratings: His final job approval rating hovered around 39%.

•Historical Outlook: In a January 2025 Gallup poll, 54% of Americans predicted history would judge him as "below average" or "poor," while 19% believed he would be remembered as "outstanding" or "above average" (26% predicted "average"). These opinions were sharply divided by party: Democrats viewed him favorably, while Republicans and a majority of independents viewed him negatively.

Ultimately, historians often view Joe Biden as a highly consequential legislator who struggled to translate his policy victories into public approval. For those who prioritize economic investments, clean energy transition, and international alliances, his presidency is viewed favorably. For those who prioritize price stability, border security, and strong global deterrence, his tenure is judged harshly.

Citations (9)

1apnorc.orgAcademic
apnorc.org
Backs: “His single-term presidency (2021–2025) is widely viewed as highly consequential, but opinions on his success are deeply divided along partisan lines.”
2taylortailored.co.ukNot yet classified
taylortailored.co.uk
Backs: “His single-term presidency (2021–2025) is widely viewed as highly consequential, but opinions on his success are deeply divided along partisan lines.”
3noahpinion.blogBlogs and newsletters
noahpinion.blog
Backs: “Supporters point to a historic slate of legislative achievements and a resilient post-pandemic economy, while critics focus on high inflation, border security issues, and foreign policy challenges.”
4moderndiplomacy.euNews and media
moderndiplomacy.eu
Backs: “Supporters point to a historic slate of legislative achievements and a resilient post-pandemic economy, while critics focus on high inflation, border security issues, and foreign policy challenges.”
5cfr.orgNonprofits and think tanks
cfr.org
Backs: “Supporters and center-left historians argue that Biden was one of the most effective legislative presidents in modern history, particularly given his razor-thin congressional majorities. Key achievements include:”
6port.ac.ukAcademic
port.ac.uk
Backs: “Pandemic Management: Upon taking office, Biden oversaw a massive, coordinated rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and implemented clear public health strategies that helped transition the country out of the pandemic emergency. Strengthening Foreign Alliances: Biden repaired traditional alliances—particularly NATO—which had…”
7cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
cbsnews.com
Backs: “Strengthening Foreign Alliances: Biden repaired traditional alliances—particularly NATO—which had been strained. He successfully united Western allies to provide financial and military aid to Ukraine following Russia's 2022 invasion.”
8afj.orgNot yet classified
afj.org
Backs: “Judicial Diversity: His administration successfully appointed a highly diverse group of federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.”
9gallup.comCompanies
gallup.com
Backs: “Critics, including conservatives and many independents, argue that his policy decisions exacerbated national struggles and weakened the country's standing. Key criticisms include:”