Joe Biden
Template:Short description Template:Redirect2 Template:Pp-move Template:Pp-blp Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Template:Joe Biden series Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.Template:Efn (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who served as the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Delaware in the United States Senate from 1973 to 2009 and also served as the 47th vice president under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden graduated from the University of Delaware in 1965 and the Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. He was elected to the New Castle County Council in 1970 and the U.S. Senate in 1972. As a senator, Biden chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and Foreign Relations Committee. He drafted and led passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act. Biden also oversaw six U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including contentious hearings for Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. He opposed the Gulf War in 1991 but voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002. Biden ran unsuccessfully for the 1988 and 2008 Democratic presidential nominations. In 2008, Obama chose him as his running mate, and Biden was a close counselor to Obama as vice president. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden chose Kamala Harris as his running mate, and they defeated Republican incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
As president, Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession. He signed bipartisan bills on infrastructure and manufacturing. Biden proposed the Build Back Better Act, aspects of which were incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act that he signed into law in 2022. He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. In his foreign policy, the U.S. reentered the Paris Agreement and enacted the New Atlantic Charter. Biden oversaw the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops that ended the war in Afghanistan, leading to the Taliban seizing control. He responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia and authorizing aid to Ukraine. During the Gaza war, Biden condemned the actions of Hamas as terrorism, strongly supported Israel, and sent limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. A temporary ceasefire proposal he backed was adopted shortly before his presidency ended.
Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted throughout his presidency. He became the first president to turn 80 years old while in office. He began his presidency with majority support, but saw his approval ratings decline significantly throughout his presidency, partially due to public frustration over inflation, which peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 before dropping to 2.9% by the end of his presidency. Biden initially ran for reelection and, after the Democratic primaries, became the party's presumptive nominee in the 2024 presidential election. After his performance in the first presidential debate, renewed scrutiny from across the political spectrum about his age and health led him to withdraw his candidacy. In 2022 and 2024, Biden's administration was ranked favorably by historians and scholars, diverging from unfavorable public assessments of his tenure. He is the oldest living former U.S. president, the oldest living former U.S. vice president, and the oldest person to have served as president.
Early life (1942–1965)
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on November 20, 1942,<ref name="cong-bio">Template:Biographical Directory of Congress</ref> at St. Mary's Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania,Template:Sfn to Catherine Eugenia "Jean" Biden (Template:Née)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Joseph Robinette Biden Sr.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is the oldest child in a Catholic family of mostly Irish descent. Biden has a sister, Valerie, and two brothers, James and Francis.Template:Sfn
Home life
Joseph Sr. had been wealthy, and the family purchased a home in the affluent Long Island suburb of Garden City, New York, in 1946.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> After he suffered business setbacks around the time Biden was seven years old,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="promises2008">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Sfn the family lived with Jean's parents in Scranton for several years.<ref name="nyt-father">Template:Cite news</ref> Scranton fell into economic decline during the 1950s, and Joseph Sr. could not find steady work.<ref name="ap-scranton">Template:Cite news</ref> Beginning in 1953, when Biden was ten,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the family lived in an apartment in Claymont, Delaware, before moving to a house in nearby Mayfield, Delaware.Template:Efn Joseph Sr. later became a successful used-car salesman, maintaining the family in a middle-class lifestyle.<ref name="nyt-father" /><ref name="ap-scranton" /><ref name="aap08-bio">Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 364.</ref>
Sports and young adulthood
At Archmere Academy in Claymont,Template:Sfn Biden played baseball and was a standout halfback and wide receiver on the high school football team.<ref name="nyt-father" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Though a poor student, he was class president in his junior and senior years.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He graduated in 1961.Template:Sfn At the University of Delaware in Newark, Biden briefly played freshman football<ref>Biden, Promises to Keep, pp. 27, 32–33.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in history and political science in 1965.<ref name="ap-timeline" />Template:Sfn
Marriages, law school, and early career (1966–1973)
Template:Main Template:See also
Biden married Neilia Hunter, a student at Syracuse University, on August 27, 1966,<ref name="ap-timeline">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after overcoming her parents' disinclination for her to wed a Catholic. Their wedding was held in a Catholic church in Skaneateles, New York.<ref>Biden, Promises to Keep, pp. 32, 36–37.</ref> They had three children: Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III, Robert Hunter Biden, and Naomi Christina "Amy" Biden.<ref name="ap-timeline" />
Biden earned a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968. In his first year of law school, he failed a course because he plagiarized a law review article, but the failing grade was later stricken. His grades were relatively poor, and he graduated 76th in a class of 85.<ref name="nyt091887" /> He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969.<ref name="cong-bio" />
Biden clerked at a law firm headed by prominent local Republican William Prickett in 1968 and self-identified as a Republican.<ref name="dmn-87">Template:Cite news Reprinted in Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He disliked incumbent Democratic Delaware governor Charles L. Terry's conservative racial politics and supported a more liberal Republican, Russell W. Peterson, who defeated Terry in 1968.<ref name="dmn-87" /> Local Republicans attempted to recruit Biden, but he registered as an independent because of his distaste for Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon.<ref name="dmn-87" />
Law practices
In 1969, Biden resumed practicing law, first as a public defender in Wilmington, Delaware. Most of his clients were African Americans from Wilmington's east side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden then joined a firm headed by Sid Balick, a locally active Democrat.Template:Sfn<ref name="dmn-87" /> Balick named him to the Democratic Forum, a group trying to reform and revitalize the state party,Template:Sfn and Biden switched his registration to Democratic.<ref name="dmn-87" /> He also started his own firm, Biden and Walsh.Template:Sfn Corporate law, however, did not appeal to him, and criminal law did not pay well.<ref name="nyt-father" /> He supplemented his income by managing properties.<ref name="watn020109">Template:Cite news</ref>
Biden ran for the fourth district seat on the New Castle County Council in 1970 on a liberal platform that included support for public housing in the suburbs.Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden won the general election, defeating Republican Lawrence T. Messick, and took office on January 5, 1971.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He served until January 1, 1973.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Sfn During his time on the county council, Biden opposed large highway projects, which he argued might disrupt Wilmington neighborhoods.Template:Sfn
Biden had not openly supported or opposed the Vietnam War until he ran for Senate and opposed Richard Nixon's conduct of the war.Template:Sfn While studying at the University of Delaware and Syracuse University, Biden obtained five student draft deferments. Based on a physical examination, he was given a conditional medical deferment in 1968; in 2008, a spokesperson for Biden said his having had "asthma as a teenager" was the reason.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
1972 U.S. Senate campaign in Delaware
.jpg){kind=link}
Biden defeated Republican incumbent J. Caleb Boggs to become the junior U.S. senator from Delaware in 1972. He was the only Democrat willing to challenge Boggs and, with minimal campaign funds, was thought to have no chance of winning.<ref name="cby-43">Current Biography Yearbook 1987, p. 43.</ref><ref name="nyt-father" /> Family members managed and staffed the campaign, which relied on meeting voters face-to-face and hand-distributing position papers,<ref name="npr-72">Template:Cite news</ref> an approach made feasible by Delaware's small size.<ref name="watn020109" /> He received help from the AFL-CIO and Democratic pollster Patrick Caddell.<ref name="cby-43" /> His platform focused on the environment, withdrawal from Vietnam, civil rights, mass transit, equitable taxation, health care and public dissatisfaction with "politics as usual".<ref name="cby-43" /><ref name="npr-72" /> A few months before the election, Biden trailed Boggs by almost thirty percentage points,<ref name="cby-43" /> but his energy, young family, and ability to connect with voters' emotions worked to his advantage,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> and he won with 50.5% of the vote.<ref name="npr-72" />
Death of first wife and daughter
A few weeks after Biden was elected senator, his wife Neilia and one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in an automobile accident in Hockessin, Delaware, on December 18, 1972.<ref name="ap-timeline" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Their sons Beau (aged 3) and Hunter (aged 2) were in the car and were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Template:Sfn He considered resigning to care for them,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> but Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield persuaded him not to.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden contemplated suicide and was filled with anger and religious doubt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He wrote that he "felt God had played a horrible trick" on him<ref>Biden, Promises to Keep, p. 81</ref> and had trouble focusing on work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Second marriage
Biden met teacher Jill Tracy Jacobs in 1975 on a blind date.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They married at the United Nations chapel in New York on June 17, 1977,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Biden, Promises to Keep, p. 117.</ref> and spent their honeymoon at Lake Balaton in the Hungarian People's Republic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden credits her with the renewal of his interest in politics and life.<ref>Biden, Promises to Keep, p. 113.</ref>
In 1981, the couple had a daughter, Ashley Biden,<ref name="ap-timeline" /> who is a social worker, activist, and fashion designer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jill helped raise her stepsons, Hunter and Beau, who were seven and eight respectively at the time of her marriage. Hunter has worked as a Washington lobbyist and investment adviser; his business dealings, personal life, and legal troubles came under significant scrutiny during his father's presidency. In December 2024, Biden pardoned Hunter following his conviction on gun and tax charges despite repeated promises that he would not do so.Template:Efn Beau became an Army judge-advocate in Iraq and later Delaware attorney general<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before dying of brain cancer in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Teaching
From 1991 to 2008, as an adjunct professor, Biden co-taught a seminar on constitutional law at Widener University School of Law.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
U.S. Senate (1973–2009)
Template:Main Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, Biden was reelected in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, regularly receiving about 60% of the vote.<ref name="aap08-366" /> Aged 30 when first elected, he was the seventh-youngest senator in U.S. history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was junior senator to William Roth until Roth was defeated in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He remains one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For 36 years, he commuted from Washington to Wilmington via Amtrak, earning him the nickname "Amtrak Joe".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Senate activities
During his early years in the Senate, Biden focused on consumer protection and environmental issues and called for greater government accountability.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1974, he described himself as liberal on civil rights and liberties, senior citizens' concerns, and healthcare, but conservative on other issues, including abortion and military conscription.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden was the first U.S. senator to endorse Governor Jimmy Carter for president in the 1976 Democratic primary. Carter won the Democratic nomination and the 1976 election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden also worked on arms control.<ref name="nyt-foreign" /><ref>Current Biography Yearbook 1987, p. 45.</ref> After Congress failed to ratify the SALT II Treaty signed in 1979 by Soviet general secretary Leonid Brezhnev and President Carter, Biden met with Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko and secured changes that addressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's objections.<ref>Template:Cite book p. 144.</ref> He received considerable attention when he excoriated Secretary of State George Shultz at a Senate hearing for the Reagan administration's support of South Africa despite its policy of apartheid.<ref name="dmn-87" /> In a congressional hearing in 1984, he objected to the Strategic Defense Initiative plan to construct autonomous systems of ICBM defense.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Biden was an advocate for Delaware military installations, including Dover Air Force Base and New Castle Air National Guard Base.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
In the mid-1970s, Biden was one of the Senate's strongest opponents of race-integration busing. His Delaware constituents strongly opposed it, and such opposition nationwide later led his party to mostly abandon school integration policies.<ref name="Gadsden">Template:Cite news</ref> In his first Senate campaign, Biden had expressed support for busing to remedy de jure segregation, as in the South, but opposed its use to remedy de facto segregation arising from racial patterns of neighborhood residency, as in Delaware; he opposed a proposed constitutional amendment banning busing entirely.Template:Sfn Biden supported a 1976 measure forbidding the use of federal funds for transporting students beyond the school closest to them.<ref name="Gadsden" /> He co-sponsored a 1977 amendment closing loopholes in that measure, which President Carter signed into law in 1978.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Biden became ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1981. He was a Democratic floor manager for the successful passage of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act in 1984. His supporters praised him for modifying some of the law's worst provisions, and it was his most important legislative accomplishment to that time.<ref name="cby-44">Current Biography Yearbook 1987, p. 44.</ref> In 1994, Biden helped pass the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which included a ban on assault weapons,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine Cover story.</ref> and the Violence Against Women Act,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which he has called his most significant legislation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1994 crime law was unpopular among progressives and criticized for resulting in mass incarceration;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden later expressed regret for passing the bill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
.jpg){kind=link}
Biden voted for a 1993 provision that deemed homosexuality incompatible with military life, thereby banning gay people from serving in the armed forces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1996, he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, thereby barring people in such marriages from equal protection under federal law and allowing states to do the same.<ref name="NYT Biden Evolution on LGBTQ">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, the act was ruled unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Biden was critical of Independent Counsel Ken Starr during the 1990s Whitewater controversy and Clinton–Lewinsky scandal investigations, saying "it's going to be a cold day in hell" before another independent counsel would be granted similar powers.<ref>Almanac of American Politics 2000, p. 372.</ref> He voted to acquit during the impeachment of Bill Clinton.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the 2000s, Biden sponsored bankruptcy legislation sought by credit card issuers (such as MBNA, one of Delaware's largest companies).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="aap08-bio" /> Bill Clinton vetoed the bill in 2000, but it passed in 2005 as the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> with Biden being one of only 18 Democrats to vote for it, while leading Democrats and consumer rights organizations opposed it.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a senator, Biden strongly supported increased Amtrak funding and rail security.<ref name="aap08-366" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Brain surgeries
In February 1988, after several episodes of severe neck pain, Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking intracranial berry aneurysm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="nyt-4cmed">Template:Cite news</ref> While recuperating, he suffered a pulmonary embolism.<ref name="nyt-4cmed" /> A second aneurysm was surgically repaired in May.<ref name="nyt-4cmed" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His recuperation kept him away from the Senate for seven months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Senate Judiciary Committee
Biden was a longtime member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He chaired it from 1987 to 1995 and was a ranking minority member from 1981 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1997.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As chair, Biden presided over two highly contentious U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> When Robert Bork was nominated in 1988, Biden reversed his approvalTemplate:Mdashbgiven in an interview the previous yearTemplate:Mdashbof a hypothetical Bork nomination. Conservatives were angered,Template:Sfn but at the hearings' close Biden was praised for his fairness, humor, and courage.Template:Sfn<ref name="nyt-lg-87">Template:Cite news</ref> Rejecting the arguments of some Bork opponents,<ref name="aap08-bio" /> Biden framed his objections to Bork in terms of the conflict between Bork's strong originalism and the view that the U.S. Constitution provides rights to liberty and privacy beyond those explicitly enumerated in its text.<ref name="nyt-lg-87" /> Bork's nomination was rejected in the committee by a 5–9 vote<ref name="nyt-lg-87" /> and then in the full Senate, 42–58.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During Clarence Thomas's nomination hearings in 1991, Biden's questions on constitutional issues were often convoluted to the point that Thomas sometimes lost track of them,Template:Sfn and Thomas later wrote that Biden's questions were akin to "beanballs".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the committee hearing closed, the public learned that Anita Hill had accused Thomas of making unwelcome sexual comments when they had worked together.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101289%7Ctitle=Nina Totenberg, NPR Biography|access-date=May 31, 2008|publisher=NPR|archive-date=April 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414042451/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101289%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden had known of some of these charges, but initially shared them only with the committee because Hill was then unwilling to testify.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> The committee hearing was reopened and Hill testified, but Biden did not permit testimony from other witnesses, such as a woman who had made similar charges and experts on harassment.<ref name="nyt-hill">Template:Cite news</ref> The full Senate confirmed Thomas by a 52–48 vote, with Biden opposed.<ref name="aap08-bio" /> Liberal legal advocates and women's groups felt strongly that Biden had mishandled the hearings and not done enough to support Hill.<ref name="nyt-hill" /> In 2019, he told Hill he regretted his treatment of her, but Hill said afterward she remained unsatisfied.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Biden was a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He became its ranking minority member in 1997 and chaired it from June 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009.<ref name="aap08-365" /> His positions were generally liberal internationalist.<ref name="nyt-foreign">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="lat-foreign" /> He collaborated effectively with Republicans and sometimes went against elements of his own party.<ref name="aap08-365" /><ref name="lat-foreign" /> During this time he met with at least 150 leaders from 60 countries and international organizations, becoming a well-known Democratic voice on foreign policy.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/23/meetings_with_foreign_leaders.html |title=Meetings with Foreign Leaders? Biden's Been There, Done That |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2009 |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112112314/https://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/09/23/meetings_with_foreign_leaders.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Biden voted against authorization for the Gulf War in 1991.<ref name="lat-foreign">{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-foreignpol24-story.html |title=Joe Biden respected—if not always popular—for foreign policy record |last1=Richter |first1=Paul |last2=Levey |first2=Noam N. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=August 24, 2008 |access-date=November 5, 2009 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051910/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-foreignpol24-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He became interested in the Yugoslav Wars after hearing about Serbian abuses during the Croatian War of Independence in 1991.<ref name="nyt-foreign" /> Once the Bosnian War broke out, Biden was among the first to call for the "lift and strike" policy.<ref name="nyt-foreign" /><ref name="aap08-365" /> George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton were both reluctant to implement the policy, fearing Balkan entanglement.<ref name="nyt-foreign" /><ref name="lat-foreign" /> In April 1993, Biden had a tense three-hour meeting with Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević.<ref name="wapo-bosnia">Template:Cite news</ref> Biden worked on several versions of legislative language urging the U.S. toward greater involvement.<ref name="wapo-bosnia" /> He has called his role in affecting Balkan policy in the mid-1990s his "proudest moment in public life" related to foreign policy.<ref name="lat-foreign" /> In 1999, during the Kosovo War, Biden supported the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.<ref name="nyt-foreign" /> He and Senator John McCain co-sponsored the McCain-Biden Kosovo Resolution, which called on Clinton to use all necessary force, including ground troops, to confront Milošević over Yugoslav actions toward Kosovo Albanians.<ref name="lat-foreign" /><ref name="wsj082508">{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121954185485266719 | title=Biden, McCain Have a Friendship—and More—in Common | last=Holmes | first=Elizabeth | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=August 25, 2008 | access-date=November 5, 2009 | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194520/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121954185485266719 | url-status=live}}</ref>
Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
Biden was a strong supporter of the War in Afghanistan, saying, "Whatever it takes, we should do it."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> As head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he said in 2002 that Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was a threat to national security and there was no other option than to "eliminate" that threat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2002, he voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, approving the U.S. invasion of Iraq.<ref name="lat-foreign" /> As chair of the committee, he assembled witnesses to testify in favor of the authorization. They gave testimony grossly misrepresenting the intent, history, and status of Saddam and his government, and touted Iraq's fictional possession of weapons of mass destruction.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden eventually became a critic of the war, calling his vote a "mistake" by 2005,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but did not push for withdrawal.<ref name="lat-foreign" /><ref name="wapo-bosnia" /> He supported the appropriations for the occupation, but argued that the war should be internationalized, that more soldiers were needed, and that the Bush administration should "level with the American people" about its cost and length.<ref name="aap08-365">Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 365.</ref><ref name="wsj082508" />
By late 2006, Biden's stance had shifted considerably. He opposed the troop surge of 2007,<ref name="lat-foreign" /><ref name="wapo-bosnia" /> saying General David Petraeus was "dead, flat wrong" in believing the surge could work.<ref name="nytm-traub" /> Biden, through a plan developed with Council on Foreign Relations president Leslie H. Gelb, instead advocated dividing Iraq into a loose federation of three ethnic states.Template:Efn In September 2007, a non-binding resolution endorsing the plan passed the Senate,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but the idea failed to gain traction.<ref name="nytm-traub" />
1988 and 2008 presidential campaigns
1988 campaign
Biden declared his candidacy for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination on June 9, 1987.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was considered a strong candidate because of his moderate image, his speaking ability, his high profile as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee at the upcoming Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination hearings, and his appeal to Baby Boomers.<ref name="dmn-87" /><ref name="nyt083187">Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Sfn He raised more in the first quarter of 1987 than any other candidate.<ref name="nyt083187" />Template:Sfn
By August, Biden's campaign messaging had become confused due to staff rivalries,Template:Sfn and in September, he was accused of plagiarizing a speech by British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden had credited Kinnock on previous occasions,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="lat-speech" /> but did not on two occasions in August.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|book|last1=Germond|first1=Jack|url=https://archive.org/details/whosebroadstripe00germ%7Ctitle=Whose Broad Stripes and Bright Stars? The Trivial Pursuit of the Presidency 1988|last2=Witcover|first2=Jules|publisher=Warner Books|year=1989|isbn=978-0-446-51424-8|author-link=Jack Germond|author-link2=Jules Witcover}}</ref>Template:Rp<ref name="lat-speech">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Risen |first1=James |author-link=James Risen |last2=Shogan |first2=Robert |date=September 16, 1987 |title=Differing Versions Cited on Source of Passages: Biden Facing New Flap Over Speeches |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-16-mn-5412-story.html |access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081219/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-16-mn-5412-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Earlier that year, Biden had also used passages from a speech by Robert F. Kennedy (for which his aides took blame) and the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy. Two years earlier he had used a 1976 passage by Hubert Humphrey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden responded that politicians often borrow from one another without giving credit, and that one of his rivals for the nomination, Jesse Jackson, had called him to point out that Jackson had used the same material by Humphrey that Biden had used.<ref name="aap08-bio" /><ref name="nyt091887">Template:Cite news</ref> A few days later, it was publicized that, while in law school, Biden had taken text from a Fordham Law Review article with inadequate citations.<ref name="nyt091887" /> At Biden's request the Delaware Supreme Court's Board of Professional Responsibility reviewed the incident and concluded that he had violated no rules.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Biden has made several false or exaggerated claims about his early life: that he had earned three degrees in college, that he attended law school on a full scholarship, that he had graduated in the top half of his class,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and that he had marched in the civil rights movement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The limited amount of other news about the presidential race amplified these disclosures,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and on September 23, 1987, Biden withdrew his candidacy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2008 campaign
After exploring running in several previous cycles, in January 2007, Biden declared his candidacy in the 2008 elections.<ref name="aap08-366" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden focused on the Iraq War, his record as chairman of major Senate committees, and his foreign-policy experience.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden was noted for his one-liners during the campaign; in one debate he said of Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani, "There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, and a verb and 9/11."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Biden had difficulty raising funds, struggled to draw people to his rallies, and failed to gain traction against the high-profile candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He never rose above single digits in national polls of the Democratic candidates. In the first contest on January 3, 2008, Biden placed fifth in the Iowa caucuses, garnering slightly less than one percent of the state delegates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He withdrew from the race that evening.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Murray |first=Shailagh |date=January 4, 2008 |title=Biden, Dodd Withdraw From Race |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/04/AR2008010400260.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520022844/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/04/AR2008010400260.html |archive-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>
Despite its lack of success, Biden's 2008 campaign raised his stature in the political world.<ref name="gamechange">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp In particular, it changed the relationship between Biden and Obama. Although they had served together on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, they had not been close: Biden resented Obama's quick rise to political stardom,<ref name="nytm-traub">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Traub|first=James|author-link=James Traub|date=November 24, 2009|title=After Cheney |page=MM34 |magazine=The New York Times Magazine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084703/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Biden-t.html%7Carchive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref>Template:Sfn while Obama viewed Biden as garrulous and patronizing.<ref name="gamechange" />Template:Rp Having gotten to know each other during 2007, Obama appreciated Biden's campaign style and appeal to working-class voters, and Biden said he became convinced Obama was "the real deal".Template:Sfn<ref name="gamechange" />Template:Rp
2008 and 2012 vice presidential campaigns
2008 campaign
In August 2008, Obama and Biden met in secret to discuss the possibility of a place for Biden in the Obama administration,<ref name="ny-lizza">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and developed a strong personal rapport.Template:Sfn On August 22, Obama announced that Biden would be his running mate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The New York Times reported that the choice reflected a desire for someone with foreign policy and national security experience.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Others pointed out Biden's appeal to middle-class and blue-collar voters.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>Template:Sfn Biden was officially nominated for vice president on August 27 at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Biden's vice-presidential campaigning gained little media attention, as the press devoted far more coverage to the Republican nominee and then-governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.<ref name="nyt-no2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under instructions from the campaign, Biden kept his speeches succinct and tried to avoid offhand remarks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Privately, Biden's remarks frustrated Obama. "How many times is Biden gonna say something stupid?", he once angrily asked.<ref name="gamechange" />Template:Rp Obama campaign staffers called Biden's blunders "Joe bombs" and kept Biden uninformed about strategy discussions, which irked Biden.<ref name="nyt0508122" /> Relations between the two campaigns became strained for a month, until Biden apologized to Obama and the two built a stronger partnership.<ref name="gamechange" />Template:Rp
As the 2008 financial crisis reached a peak in September 2008, and the proposed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 became a major factor in the campaign, Biden voted for the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which passed in the Senate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On October 2, he participated in the vice-presidential debate with Palin at Washington University in St. Louis. Post-debate polls found that while Palin exceeded many voters' expectations, Biden had still won the debate overall.Template:Sfn On November 4, Obama and Biden were elected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/ |title=President—Election Center 2008 |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 19, 2008 |archive-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109050840/https://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
As Biden was running for vice president, he was also running for reelection to the Senate,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as permitted by Delaware law.<ref name="aap08-366">Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 366.</ref> Having been reelected to the Senate as well as the vice presidency,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden made a point of not resigning from the Senate before he was sworn in for his seventh term in January 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He resigned from the Senate on January 15.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2012 campaign
In October 2010, Biden said Obama had asked him to remain as his running mate for the 2012 presidential election,<ref name="nyt1013102" /> but with Obama's popularity declining, White House Chief of Staff William M. Daley conducted some secret polling and focus group research in late 2011 on the idea of replacing Biden with Hillary Clinton.<ref name="nyt-dd-replace" /> The notion was dropped when the results showed no appreciable improvement,<ref name="nyt-dd-replace">{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |title=Book Details Obama Aides' Talks About Replacing Biden on 2012 Ticket |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082553/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/book-details-consideration-of-replacing-biden-on-2012-ticket.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and White House officials later said Obama himself never entertained the idea.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-joe-biden-176520 |title=W.H.: Obama never considered dropping Joe Biden |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |newspaper=Politico |date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104143531/https://www.politico.com/politico44/2013/11/wh-obama-never-considered-dropping-biden-176520.html |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Biden's May 2012 statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage gained considerable public attention in comparison to Obama's position, which had been described as "evolving".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |title=Biden 'comfortable' with equal rights for gays who wed |date=May 6, 2012 |first=Christi |last=Parsons |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526082737/https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-may-06-la-na-biden-gay-marriage-20120507-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden made his statement without administration consent, and Obama and his aides were irked, since Obama had planned to shift position in the build-up to the party convention.<ref name="nyt0508122" /><ref name="ap051012">{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments | title=AP source: Biden apologizes to Obama over comments | agency=Associated Press | publisher=Fox News | date=May 10, 2012 | access-date=May 16, 2012 | archive-date=October 6, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006123920/https://www.foxnews.com/us/ap-source-biden-apologizes-to-obama-over-comments | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |title=6 hidden fault lines in President Obama's campaign |last=Thursh |first=Glenn |newspaper=Politico |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208190849/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/6-hidden-obama-campaign-fault-lines-080028 |url-status=live}}</ref> Gay rights advocates seized upon Biden's statement,<ref name="ap051012" /> and within days, Obama announced that he too supported same-sex marriage, an action in part forced by Biden's remarks.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html | title=Obama Says Same-Sex Marriage Should Be Legal | first1=Jackie | last1=Calmes | first2=Peter | last2=Baker | newspaper=The New York Times | date=May 9, 2012 | access-date=May 10, 2012 | archive-date=May 10, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510014102/https://www.nytimes.comhttps://2012/05/10/us/politics/obama-says-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal.html | url-status=live}}</ref>
Biden had a heavy schedule of appearances in swing states as the reelection campaign began in earnest in spring 2012.<ref name="time-be-joe">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Von Drehle |first=David |author-link=David Von Drehle |date=September 10, 2012 |title=Let There Be Joe |pages=41–43 |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2123322,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109162947/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2123322,00.html |archive-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="time-mo">{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Mo Joe |last=Scherer |first=Michael |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2116132-1,00.html |magazine=Time |date=June 11, 2012 |pages=26–30 |access-date=September 6, 2022 |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927141830/https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2116132-1,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> An August 2012 remark before a mixed-race audience that Republican proposals to relax Wall Street regulations would "put y'all back in chains" again drew attention to Biden's propensity for colorful remarks.<ref name="time-be-joe" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Biden's unscripted moments keep campaign on its toes |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-na-biden-20120817-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082611/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-aug-17-la-na-biden-20120817-story.html |archive-date=January 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/mission-impossible-managing-biden-079776 |title=Mission Impossible: Managing Joe Biden |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |newspaper=Politico |date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103084811/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/08/mission-impossible-managing-biden-079776 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Following the first presidential debate of the general election, in which Obama's performance was considered surprisingly lackluster,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=October 8, 2012 |title=Romney Narrows Vote Gap After Historic Debate Win |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/157907/romney-narrows-vote-gap-historic-debate-win.aspx |access-date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=Gallup, Inc. |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129055644/https://news.gallup.com/poll/157907/romney-narrows-vote-gap-historic-debate-win.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref> his lead over Romney collapsed,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=October 8, 2012 |title=Romney's Strong Debate Performance Erases Obama's Lead |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/10/08/romneys-strong-debate-performance-erases-obamas-lead/ |access-date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129055644/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/10/08/romneys-strong-debate-performance-erases-obamas-lead/ |url-status=live}}</ref> putting pressure on Biden to stop the bleeding with a strong showing against the Republican vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Reston |first=Maeve |date=September 25, 2016 |title=When Romney trounced Obama |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/25/politics/obama-debate-election-2012/index.html |access-date=January 29, 2024 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129055644/https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/25/politics/obama-debate-election-2012/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=MacAskill |first=Ewen |date=October 4, 2012 |title=Mitt Romney comes out on top as Obama stumbles in first debate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/04/romney-obama-first-presidential-debate |access-date=January 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129055644/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/04/romney-obama-first-presidential-debate |url-status=live}}</ref> Some political analysts considered Biden's performance in the October 11 vice-presidential debate one of the best of his career<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Strauss |first=Daniel |date=September 27, 2020 |title=Biden's team hopes for repeat of his 2012 performance as Trump debate nears |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/27/trump-biden-us-presidential-debate-2012 |access-date=January 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129055644/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/27/trump-biden-us-presidential-debate-2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=O'Brien |first=Michael |date=October 11, 2012 |title=Biden plays aggressor in debate as Ryan makes GOP case |url=https://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/11/14376267-biden-plays-aggressor-in-debate-as-ryan-argues-gop-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928140933/https://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/11/14376267-biden-plays-aggressor-in-debate-as-ryan-argues-gop-case |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref> and a key factor in Obama's rebound in the polls and eventual victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The debate also became memorable for the popularization of Biden's use of the phrase "a bunch of malarkey" in response to an attack by Ryan on the administration's response to the attacks on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi in September.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Memmott |first=Mark |date=October 12, 2012 |title=What's All This Malarkey About Malarkey? |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/10/12/162791655/whats-all-this-malarkey-about-malarkey |access-date=January 28, 2024 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606155406/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/10/12/162791655/whats-all-this-malarkey-about-malarkey |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Biden reused the phrase during his 2020 presidential campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Bump |first=Philip |date=December 2, 2019 |title=The unexpected nostalgia of Biden's 'malarkey' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/02/unexpected-nostalgia-bidens-malarkey/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007174617/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/02/unexpected-nostalgia-bidens-malarkey/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On November 6, Obama and Biden were reelected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Vice presidency (2009–2017)
Template:Main Template:See also
First term (2009–2013)
Biden said he intended to eliminate some explicit roles assumed by George W. Bush's vice president, Dick Cheney, and did not intend to emulate any previous vice presidency.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |title=Biden says he'll be different vice president |publisher=CNN |date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224093055/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/22/biden.lkl/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He was sworn in on January 20, 2009.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 20, 2009|title=In culminating moment, Biden is vice president |work=The Oregonian |agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2009/01/in_culminating_moment_biden_is.html%7Caccess-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101194210/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2009/01/in_culminating_moment_biden_is.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He was the first vice president from Delaware<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=November 3, 2008 |title=Think you know your election trivia? |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/election.trivia/index.html |access-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-date=November 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106075757/https://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/03/election.trivia/index.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> and the first Roman Catholic vice president.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Ken |last=Rudin |date=January 9, 2009|title=The First Catholic Vice President? |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/01/the_first_catholic_vice_presid.html%7Caccess-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925060421/https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2009/01/the_first_catholic_vice_presid.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole|date=November 6, 2008 |title=VP's home awaits if Biden chooses |work=The News Journal |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/811060379 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109060406/https://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/811060379 |archive-date=November 9, 2008}}</ref> Members of the Obama administration said Biden's role in the White House was to be a contrarian and force others to defend their positions.<ref name="The New York Times-2">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Baker|first=Peter|date=April 28, 2019|title=Biden and Obama's 'Odd Couple' Relationship Aged Into Family Ties|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html%7Caccess-date=April 26, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606093422/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/28/us/politics/barack-obama-biden.html%7Cquote=He was also the in-house skeptic on the use of force, arguing against a troop surge to Afghanistan, military intervention in Libya and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.|url-status=live}}</ref> White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said Biden helped counter groupthink.<ref name="nyt032809">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Leibovich|first=Mark|date=March 28, 2009|title=Speaking Freely, Biden Finds Influential Role|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html%7Caccess-date=March 31, 2009|archive-date=April 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401232903/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/politics/29biden.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> The Bidens maintained a relaxed atmosphere at their official residence in Washington, often entertaining their grandchildren, and regularly returned to their home in Delaware.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Parnes|first=Amie|date=June 28, 2011|title=The Bidens' 'regular' lives|newspaper=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887%7Caccess-date=June 28, 2011|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/06/the-bidens-regular-lives-057887%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Biden oversaw infrastructure spending from the Obama stimulus package intended to help counteract the ongoing recession.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|magazine|last=Scherer|first=Michael|date=July 1, 2009|title=What Happened to the Stimulus?|magazine=Time|url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908417,00.html%7Caccess-date=July 8, 2009|archive-date=January 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109095116/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1908417,00.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Confronted with rising unemployment through July 2009, Biden acknowledged that the administration had "misread how bad the economy was", but maintained confidence the stimulus package would create many more jobs once the pace of expenditures picked up.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 5, 2009|title=Biden: 'We misread how bad the economy was'|publisher=NBC News|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563%7Caccess-date=July 9, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217104812/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/31745563/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> When he completed that role in February 2011, he said the number of fraud incidents with stimulus monies had been less than one percent.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Travers|first=Karen|date=February 17, 2011|title='Sheriff Joe' Biden Touts Recovery Act Success—and Hands Over His Badge|publisher=ABC News|url=https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/sheriff-joe-biden-touts-recovery-act-success-and-hands-over-his-badge.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Caccess-date=March 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221153327/https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/sheriff-joe-biden-touts-recovery-act-success-and-hands-over-his-badge.html%7Carchive-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref>
Biden's off-message response to a question in April 2009, during the beginning of the swine flu outbreak, led to a swift retraction by the White House.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Silva|first1=Mark|last2=Parsons|first2=Christi|date=May 1, 2009|title=White House adjusts Biden's swine flu advice|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html%7Caccess-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009170032/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-01-na-biden1-story.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> The remark revived Biden's reputation for gaffes.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=May 1, 2009|title=White House tempers Biden's swine flu advice|work=The Boston Globe|url=https://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/%7Curl-status=dead |access-date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505114058/https://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/05/01/white_house_tempers_bidens_swine_flu_advice/%7Carchive-date=May 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="nw-cov-1010092" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Kurtzman|first=Daniel|date=May 8, 2009|title=The Week's Best Late-Night Jokes|publisher=About.com|url=https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896%7Caccess-date=May 28, 2009|archive-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611193402/https://www.liveabout.com/late-night-political-jokes-2733896%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> A hot mic picked up Biden telling Obama that his signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was "a big fucking deal" on March 23, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite their different personalities, Obama and Biden formed a friendship, partly based around Obama's daughter Sasha and Biden's granddaughter Maisy, who attended Sidwell Friends School together.<ref name="nyt0508122">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Leibovich|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Leibovich |date=May 7, 2012|title=For a Blunt Biden, an Uneasy Supporting Role|page=1|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html%7Caccess-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103081748/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/us/politics/for-a-blunt-biden-an-uneasy-supporting-role.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Biden visited Kosovo in May 2009 and affirmed the U.S. position that its "independence is irreversible".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|journal|last=Chun|first=Kwang-Ho|title=Kosovo: A New European Nation-State?|url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf%7Cjournal=Journal of International and Area Studies|volume=18|issue=1|year=2011|pages=91, 94|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082124/https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/96517/1/5.Kosovo-A-New-European-Nation-State_Kwang-ho-Chun.pdf%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He lost an internal debate to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about sending 21,000 new troops to Afghanistan,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Dilanian|first=Ken|date=June 11, 2009|title=In a supporting role, Clinton takes a low-key approach at State Dept.|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm%7Caccess-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=May 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516020144/https://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20090611/1aclinton11_cv.art.htm%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Smith|first=Ben|date=June 23, 2009|title=Hillary Clinton toils in the shadows|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067%7Caccess-date=July 22, 2009|archive-date=September 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916005405/https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/clinton-toils-in-the-shadows-024067%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> but his skepticism was valued,<ref name="pol091609">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Cummings|first=Jeanne|date=September 16, 2009|title=Joe Biden, 'the skunk at the family picnic'|publisher=The Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/the-skunk-at-the-family-picnic-027211%7Caccess-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref> and his views gained more influence as Obama reconsidered his Afghanistan strategy.<ref name="nw-cov-1010092">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bailey|first1=Holly|last2=Thomas|first2=Evan|author-link2=Evan Thomas|date=October 10, 2009|title=An Inconvenient Truth Teller|magazine=Newsweek|url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181%7Caccess-date=November 6, 2009|archive-date=November 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123063731/https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-white-house-truth-teller-81181%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Obama delegated Biden to oversee Iraq policy, and he became the administration's point man in delivering messages to Iraqi leadership before the exit of U.S. troops in 2011.Template:Efn
Biden campaigned heavily for Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections, maintaining an attitude of optimism in the face of predictions of large-scale losses for the party.<ref name="nyt1013102">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=October 12, 2010|title=Vice President Tries to Energize Democrats|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html%7Caccess-date=October 14, 2010|archive-date=October 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028044617/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/us/politics/13biden.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> After big Republican gains in the elections and Emanuel's departure, Biden's past relationships with Republicans in Congress became more important.<ref name="pol1209102">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Lee|first1=Carol E.|last2=Bresnahan|first2=John|date=December 9, 2010|title=Joe Biden expands role as White House link to Congress|newspaper=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173%7Caccess-date=December 10, 2010|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016194519/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/biden-steps-into-rahms-shoes-046173%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nyt1211102">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=December 11, 2010|title=As the Ground Shifts, Biden Plays a Bigger Role|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html%7Caccess-date=December 13, 2010|archive-date=December 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213044241/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/us/politics/12biden.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He led the successful administration effort to gain Senate approval for the New START treaty.<ref name="pol1209102" /><ref name="nyt1211102" /> In December 2010, Biden's advocacy for a middle ground, followed by his negotiations with Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, were instrumental in producing the administration's compromise tax package that included a temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts.<ref name="nyt1211102" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Hulse|first1=Carl|last2=Calmes|first2=Jackie|date=December 7, 2010|title=Biden and G.O.P. Leader Helped Hammer Out Bipartisan Tax Accord|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html%7Caccess-date=December 8, 2010|archive-date=December 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208043606/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> The package passed as the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
Obama delegated Biden to lead negotiations with Congress during the 2011 U.S. debt ceiling crisis.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Congress averts shutdown, sends stopgap to Obama |date=March 2, 2011 |first1=Andy |last1=Sullivan |first2=Kim |last2=Dixon |first3=Alister |last3=Bull |first4=Thomas |last4=Ferraro |first5=Richard |last5=Cowan |publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-spending-idUSTRE7205MS20110302}}</ref> Biden's relationship with McConnell brought about the Budget Control Act of 2011 that solved the crisis.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Thrush |first1=Glenn |last2=Brown |first2=Carrie Budoff |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |last4=Bresnahan |first4=John |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell and the making of a debt deal |newspaper=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-date=September 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922144250/https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/biden-mcconnell-and-the-making-of-a-deal-060463%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=August 3, 2011 |first1=Ben |last1=Feller |first2=Julie |last2=Pace |first3=Laurie |last3=Kellman |first4=Nancy |last4=Benac |title=The real drama was in private as debt deal hatched |publisher=Fox News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-real-drama-was-in-private-as-debt-deal-hatched |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-date=December 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230142752/https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-real-drama-was-in-private-as-debt-deal-hatched |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bohan |first1=Caren |last2=Sullivan |first2=Andy |last3=Ferraro |first3=Thomas |date=August 3, 2011 |title=Special report: How Washington took the U.S. to the brink |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-debt-brink/special-report-how-washington-took-the-u-s-to-the-brink-idUSTRE77271R20110803%7Caccess-date=August 4, 2011|archive-date=October 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013231825/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-debt-brink/special-report-how-washington-took-the-u-s-to-the-brink-idUSTRE77271R20110803%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Some reports suggest that Biden opposed proceeding with the May 2011 U.S. mission to kill Osama bin Laden,<ref name="time-mo" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=January 10, 2014 |title=Hillary Told the President That Her Opposition to the Surge in Iraq Had Been Political |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/01/robert-gates-duty-hillary-told-the-president-that-her-opposition-to-the-surge-in-iraq-had-been-political.html |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082441/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/01/robert-gates-duty-hillary-told-the-president-that-her-opposition-to-the-surge-in-iraq-had-been-political.html |url-status=live}}</ref> lest failure adversely affect Obama's reelection prospects.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Thiessen |first=Marc A. |date=October 8, 2012 |title=Biden's Bin Laden Hypocrisy |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-bidens-bin-laden-hypocrisy/2012/10/08/990aca7c-114d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html |access-date=August 29, 2015 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904124649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-bidens-bin-laden-hypocrisy/2012/10/08/990aca7c-114d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012, Biden made the case for Obama's reelection: "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Obama named Biden to head the Gun Violence Task Force, created to address the causes of school shootings and consider possible gun control measures in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, in December 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Caldwell|first=Leigh Ann|date=December 19, 2012|title=Obama sets up gun violence task force|publisher=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/%7Caccess-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185454/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-sets-up-gun-violence-task-force/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, during the final days before the United States fell off the "fiscal cliff", Biden's relationship with McConnell again proved important as the two negotiated a deal that led to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 being passed at the start of 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/01/its-over-house-passes-fiscal-cliff-deal/ |title=It's over: House passes 'fiscal cliff' deal |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |newspaper=Las Vegas Sun |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185455/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/01/its-over-house-passes-fiscal-cliff-deal/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ap-cliff">{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.startribune.com/politics/national/185276422.html |title=Congress' OK of fiscal cliff deal gives Obama a win, prevents GOP blame for tax boosts |last=Fram|first=Alan |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis |date=January 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105020524/https://www.startribune.com/politics/national/185276422.html |archive-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref>
Second term (2013–2017)
Biden was inaugurated to a second term on January 20, 2013, at a small ceremony at Number One Observatory Circle, his official residence, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor presiding (a public ceremony took place on January 21).<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-inauguration-biden-idUSBRE90J08B20130120 | title=Vice President Biden sworn into office for second term | last=Rampton|first=Roberta | publisher=Reuters | date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122062434/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/20/us-usa-inauguration-biden-idUSBRE90J08B20130120%7C archive-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> He played little part in discussions that led to the October 2013 passage of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, which resolved the federal government shutdown of 2013 and the debt-ceiling crisis of 2013. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democratic leaders cut him out of direct talks with Congress, feeling Biden had given too much away during previous negotiations.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/anatomy-of-a-shutdown-098518 |title=Anatomy of a shutdown |last1=Bresnahan |first1=John |last2=Manu |first2=Raju |last3=Sherman |first3=Jake |last4=Brown |first4=Carrie Budoff |newspaper=Politico |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115185529/https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/anatomy-of-a-shutdown-098518 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/13/biden-mostly-out-of-sight-during-shutdown-showdown/2968373/ |title=Biden mostly out of sight as shutdown drags on |last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |newspaper=USA Today |date=October 13, 2013 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082716/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/13/biden-mostly-out-of-sight-during-shutdown-showdown/2968373/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/biden-takes-back-seat-in-budget-negotiations-during-shutdown | title=Biden takes a back seat during budget negotiations over shutdown | last=Bowman | first=Bridget | work=PBS NewsHour | publisher=PBS | date=October 14, 2013 | access-date=January 24, 2021 | archive-date=January 3, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082723/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/biden-takes-back-seat-in-budget-negotiations-during-shutdown | url-status=live}}</ref>
Biden's Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized again in 2013. The act led to related developments, such as the White House Council on Women and Girls, begun in the first term, as well as the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, begun in January 2014 with Biden and Valerie Jarrett as co-chairs.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121105625/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/sexual_assault_report_1-21-14.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |title=Rape and sexual assault: A renewed call to action |date=January 2014 |via=National Archives |publisher=White House |access-date=August 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> He talked about sexual violence while introducing Lady Gaga at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Biden favored arming Syria's rebel fighters.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> As the ISIL insurgency in Iraq intensified in 2014, renewed attention was paid to the Biden-Gelb Iraqi federalization plan of 2006, with some observers suggesting Biden had been right all along.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He had close relationships with several Latin American leaders and visited the region 16 times during his vice presidency, the most of any president or vice president.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In August 2016, Biden visited Serbia, where he met with the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and expressed condolences for civilian victims of the bombing campaign during the Kosovo War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden never cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate, making him the longest-serving vice president with this distinction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During his second term, Biden was often said to be preparing for a bid for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.<ref name="Itkowitz1" /> With his family, friends, and donors encouraging him in mid-2015 to enter the race, and with Hillary Clinton's favorability ratings in decline at that time, Biden was reported to be seriously considering the prospect and a "Draft Biden 2016" Political action committee (PAC) was established.<ref name="Itkowitz1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Jeff |last1=Zeleny |first2=Kevin |last2=Liptak |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |title=Joe Biden Keeps Watchful Eye on 2016 Race |publisher=CNN |date=August 1, 2015 |access-date=August 2, 2015 |archive-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202185430/https://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/politics/vice-president-joe-biden-presidential-elections/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During 2015, Biden was uncertain about running, particularly due to the recent death of his son Beau,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before ultimately announcing his decision not to run that October.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-vice presidency (2017–2021)
Biden left office on January 20, 2017, and was succeeded by the 48th vice president of the United States, Mike Pence. After leaving the vice presidency, Biden became an honorary professor at the University of Pennsylvania, developing the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement. Biden remained in that position until 2019.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Tamari |first=Jonathan |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Penn has paid Joe Biden more than $900K since he left the White House. What did he do to earn the money? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/joe-biden-penn-salary-lectures-20190712.html |access-date=February 22, 2023 |magazine=Philadelphia |archive-date=February 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222055817/https://www.inquirer.com/news/joe-biden-penn-salary-lectures-20190712.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2017, Biden wrote a memoir, Promise Me, Dad, and went on a book tour.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Kane|first=Paul|title=Biden wraps up book tour amid persistent questions about the next chapter|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/biden-wraps-up-book-tour-amid-persistent-questions-about-the-next-chapter/2018/06/11/33ebbe8e-6daf-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html%7Cdate=June 11, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107171225/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/biden-wraps-up-book-tour-amid-persistent-questions-about-the-next-chapter/2018/06/11/33ebbe8e-6daf-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> By 2019, he and his wife reported that they had earned over $15 million since the end of his vice presidency from speaking engagements and book sales.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Eder|first1=Steve|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=July 9, 2019|title=Joe Biden's Tax Returns Show More Than $15 Million in Income After 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/joe-biden-net-worth.html%7Caccess-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715211457/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/joe-biden-net-worth.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Biden remained in the public eye, endorsing candidates while continuing to comment on politics, climate change, and the presidency of Donald Trump.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="foreign-policy2" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/335859-biden-paris-deal-best-way-to-protect-us-leadership%7Ctitle=Biden: Paris deal 'best way to protect' US leadership|first=Max|last=Greenwood|newspaper=The Hill|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225090215/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/335859-biden-paris-deal-best-way-to-protect-us-leadership%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He also continued to speak out in favor of LGBT rights, continuing advocacy on an issue he had become more closely associated with during his vice presidency.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/joe-biden-to-lgbt-gala-hold-president-trump-accountable/%7Ctitle=Joe Biden to LGBT gala: 'Hold President Trump accountable'|date=June 21, 2017|first=Steve|last=Peoples|newspaper=The Seattle Times|access-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090144/https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/joe-biden-to-lgbt-gala-hold-president-trump-accountablehttps://%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, he gave a eulogy for Senator John McCain.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden continued to support cancer research.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=O'Brien |first=Sara Ashley |date=March 12, 2017 |title=Joe Biden: The fight against cancer is bipartisan |agency=CNN Business |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/12/technology/sxsw-joe-biden-cancer/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526151625/https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/12/technology/sxsw-joe-biden-cancer/index.html |archive-date=May 26, 2019}}</ref>
2020 presidential campaign
Speculation and announcement
.jpg){kind=link}
Between 2016 and 2019, media outlets often mentioned Biden as a likely candidate for president in 2020.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-201612-htmlstory.html#joe-biden-wouldnt-count-out-a-2020-run-for-president-but-he-was-asked-in-an-emotional-moment%7Ctitle=Joe Biden wouldn't count out a 2020 run for president. But he was asked in an emotional moment|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 27, 2021|date=December 6, 2016|last=A. Memoli|first=Michael|archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090152/https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-201612-htmlstory.html#joe-biden-wouldnt-count-out-a-2020-run-for-president-but-he-was-asked-in-an-emotional-moment%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> When asked if he would run, he gave varied and ambivalent answers, saying "never say never".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/joe-biden-colbert-interview-2020-buzz/%7Ctitle=Biden stokes 2020 buzz on Colbert: 'Never say never' |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 8, 2016|date=December 7, 2016|last=Wright|first=David|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090156/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/joe-biden-colbert-interview-2020-buzzhttps://%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> A political action committee known as Time for Biden was formed in January 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.wvik.org/post/new-quad-city-super-pac-time-biden |title=New Quad City Super PAC: 'Time for Biden' |last=Charnetzki |first=Tori |publisher=WVIK |date=January 10, 2018 |access-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090209/https://www.wvik.org/post/new-quad-city-super-pac-time-biden/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden launched his campaign on April 25, 2019,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Scherer |first1=Michael |last2=Wagner |first2=John |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Former vice president Joe Biden jumps into White House race |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-vice-president-joe-biden-jumps-into-white-house-race/2019/04/25/093ff596-0aef-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526072655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-vice-president-joe-biden-jumps-into-white-house-race/2019/04/25/093ff596-0aef-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref> saying he was worried by the Trump administration and felt a "sense of duty".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Dovere |first=Edward-Isaac |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Biden's Anguished Search for a Path to Victory |work=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/joe-biden-close-running-president-despite-doubts/581956/%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090215/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/joe-biden-close-running-president-despite-doubts/581956https:// |archive-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref>
Campaign
Public polling showed Biden as one of the best-performing Democratic candidates head-to-head against Trump.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Ashley Pratte |last=Oates |title=Opinion |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=NBC News |date=January 24, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=April 17, 2019 |title=Every 2020 Democrat Wants To Be The Electable Candidate |first1=Kevin |last1=Robillard |first2=Amanda |last2=Terkel |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=HuffPost |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |title=Here's how Biden, Sanders, Warren and other top Democrats are faring against Trump in national polls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |url-status=live}}</ref> With Democrats keenly focused on "electability" for defeating Trump,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Barabak |first=Mark Z. |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Desperate to beat Trump, Democrats differ over who is best |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003532/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |url-status=live}}</ref> this boosted his popularity among Democratic voters.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It also made Biden a frequent target of Trump.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Allen |first=Mike |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Scoop: Trump fears Biden 2020, losing Pennsylvania |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Axios |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Adam |last=Edelman |title=Trump says Biden would go down "fast" and "crying" in a fight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=NBC News |date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2019, it was reported that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Biden and his son Hunter Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |title=Ukraine Pressured on U.S. Political Investigations |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=September 20, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 20, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920171010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |url-status=live}}</ref> No evidence was produced of any wrongdoing by the Bidens.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Isachenkov |first=Vladimir |title=Ukraine's prosecutor says there is no probe into Biden |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |access-date=October 1, 2019 |agency=Associated Press |date=September 27, 2019 |quote=Though the timing raised concerns among anti-corruption advocates, there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either the former vice president or his son. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005328/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=White House 'tried to cover up details of Trump-Ukraine call' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |publisher=BBC News |date=September 26, 2019 |quote=There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930105132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Matthew |last1=Brown |date=January 15, 2021|accessdate=July 7, 2021|title=Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/%7Cnewspaper=USA Today|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608213107/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump was perceived by many as attempting to hurt Biden's chances of winning the presidency,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> resulting in a political scandal<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Trump Repeatedly Pressed Ukraine President to Investigate Biden's Son |first1=Alan |last1=Cullison |first2=Rebecca |last2=Ballhaus |first3=Dustin |last3=Volz |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923092317/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Trump's impeachment.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=February 10, 2021 |title=This is why Donald Trump was impeached the first time – previous charges against former US president explained |first=Matt |last=Brooks |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Scotsman |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2019 and April 2019, eight women accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, such as embracing, touching or kissing.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html%7Cwork=The Cut|access-date=May 19, 2021|date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201217214742/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html%7Curl-status=live%7Cfirst1=Amanda%7Clast1=Arnold%7Cfirst2=Claire%7Clast2=Lampen}}</ref> Biden had previously called himself a "tactile politician" and admitted this behavior had caused trouble for him.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html |title=Nevada Democrat accuses Joe Biden of touching and kissing her without consent at 2014 event |access-date=December 30, 2019 |last=Brice-Saddler |first=Michael |date=March 29, 2019 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090227/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Journalist Mark Bowden described Biden's lifelong habit of talking close, writing that he "doesn't just meet you, he engulfs you... scooting closer" and leaning forward to talk.<ref name="The Atlantic">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In April 2019, Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html%7Ctitle=Joe Biden, in video, says he will be 'more mindful' of personal space|date=April 3, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090251/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Throughout 2019, Biden stayed generally ahead of other Democrats in national polls.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |title=NBC/WSJ poll: Former Vice-President Joe Biden frontrunner in race for Democratic nomination |date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213155327/https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |publisher=NBC News |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/%7Ctitle=Biden Is The Front-Runner, But There's No Clear Favorite |last=Silver |first=Nate |author-link=Nate Silver |date=January 10, 2020 |work=FiveThirtyEight |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214220639/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, he finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses and fifth in the New Hampshire primary.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=2020 Iowa Democratic Caucuses Live Results |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |date=February 3, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207234356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=February 11, 2020 |title=New Hampshire results |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |access-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212082135/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |url-status=live}}</ref> He performed better in the Nevada caucuses, reaching the 15% required for delegates, but still finished 21.6 percentage points behind Bernie Sanders.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Nevada Election Results 2020|url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/%7Caccess-date=November 14, 2020|newspaper=Politico|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115105350/https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Making strong appeals to Black voters on the campaign trail and in the South Carolina debate, Biden won the South Carolina primary by more than 28 points.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://apnews.com/article/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a%7Ctitle=Biden wins South Carolina, aims for Super Tuesday momentum |date=February 29, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=March 1, 2020 |first1=Steve |last1=Peoples |first2=Meg |last2=Kinnard |first3=Bill |last3=Barrow |archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229231101/https://apnews.com/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a |url-status=live}}</ref> After the withdrawals and subsequent endorsements of candidates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, he made large gains in the Super Tuesday primaries. Biden won 18 of the next 26 contests, putting him in the lead.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Montanaro |first1=Domenico |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |title=5 Takeaways From Super Tuesday And Joe Biden's Big Night |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |publisher=NPR |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113205101/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |url-status=live}}</ref> Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg soon dropped out, and Biden expanded his lead with victories over Sanders in four states on March 10.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |title=5 takeaways as Biden takes command of Democratic race on Super Tuesday II |publisher=CNN |access-date=March 11, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020 |first1=Eric |last1=Bradner |first2=Gregory |last2=Krieg |first3=Dan |last3=Merica |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311093752/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, Biden said, "I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else. There's an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In late March 2020, Tara Reade, one of the eight women who in 2019 had accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, accused Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.<ref name="nytimesallegations">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Lerer |first1=Lisa |last2=Ember |first2=Sydney |title=Examining Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412090835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 12, 2020}}</ref> There were inconsistencies between Reade's 2019 and 2020 allegations.<ref name="nytimesallegations" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=McGann |first1=Laura |title=The Agonizing Story of Tara Reade |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=Vox |date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507224441/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden and his campaign denied the sexual assault allegation.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html%7Ctitle=Sexual assault allegation by former Biden Senate aide emerges in campaign, draws denial |date=April 12, 2020|access-date=April 14, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=Beth |last1=Reinhard |first2=Elise |last2=Viebeck |first3=Matt |last3=Viser |first4=Alice |last4=Crites |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200428141345/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Phillips |first=Amber |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |title=What we know about Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618153105/https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
When Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8, 2020, Biden became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=April 8, 2020|title=Bernie Sanders Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Race for President |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |access-date=April 8, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408160232/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, Sanders endorsed Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html%7Ctitle=Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden for President|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=April 13, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413182004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Barack Obama endorsed Biden the next day.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Merica |first1=Dan |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |author-link2=Jeff Zeleny |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |title=Obama endorses Biden for president in video message |date=April 14, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414183659/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> There was a great deal of interest in who his running mate would be, in part because of "the expectation, downplayed but not exactly denied by the Biden campaign, that the 77-year-old would be a one-term president".<ref name=NYT/> Biden said, "I view myself as a transition candidate."<ref name=NYT>Template:Cite news</ref> On August 11, Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first African American and first South Asian American vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |title=Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate |publisher=BBC News |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010223842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 18, at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Biden officially became the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 2020 election.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=DNC Nominates Joe Biden to Lead Nation Through Pandemic |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Joshua |last1=Jamerson |first2=Chad |last2=Day |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818221830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Joe Biden officially becomes the Democratic Party's nominee on convention's second night |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Toluse |last1=Olorunnipa |first2=Chelsea |last2=Janes |first3=Felicia |last3=Sonmez |first4=Colby |last4=Itkowitz |first5=John |last5=Wagner |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Presidential election and transition
Biden was elected the 46th president in November 2020, defeating the incumbent, Donald Trump.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Santucci |first=Jeanine |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Timeline: Trump insists he won the election as Biden prepares to take the White House |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/09/bidens-transition-continues-trump-refuses-concede-timeline/3801714001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204403/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/09/bidens-transition-continues-trump-refuses-concede-timeline/3801714001/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 21, 2021 |newspaper=USA Today}}</ref> Trump and numerous other Republicans repeatedly made false claims that widespread electoral fraud had occurred and that only he had legitimately won the election.Template:Efn Biden's transition was delayed by several weeks as the White House ordered federal agencies not to cooperate.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Rein |first1=Lisa |last2=Viser |first2=Matt |last3=Miller |first3=Greg |last4=Dawsey |first4=Josh |date=November 9, 2020 |title=White House, escalating tensions, orders agencies to rebuff Biden transition team |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-transition-agencies-biden/2020/11/09/ad9f2ba2-22b7-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html |access-date=January 4, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114063503/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-transition-agencies-biden/2020/11/09/ad9f2ba2-22b7-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On November 23, General Services Administrator Emily W. Murphy formally recognized Biden as the apparent winner of the 2020 election and authorized the start of a transition process to the Biden administration.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/politics/transition-biden-gsa-begin/index.html%7Ctitle=First on CNN: GSA tells Biden that transition can formally begin|first1=Kristen|last1=Holmes|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=November 23, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123232709/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/politics/transition-biden-gsa-begin/index.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Although most resulting lawsuits were either dismissed or ruled against by numerous courts,Template:Efn Trump nonetheless conspired<ref name="JackSmithReportVol1">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Rp with his campaign team to submit documents in several states (all of which Biden had won) that falsely claimed to be legitimate electoral votes for President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.Template:Efn After the submission of these documents, the Trump campaign intended that the presiding officer of the United States Senate, either President of the Senate Pence or President pro tempore Chuck Grassley, would claim the unilateral power to reject electors during the January 6, 2021, vote counting session; the presiding officer would reject all electors from the several states for which the Trump campaign had submitted false documents, leaving 232 votes for Trump and 222 votes for Biden, thereby overturning the election results in Trump's favor.Template:Efn This plan failed after Pence refused to cooperate with it.Template:Efn Trump nevertheless urged his supporters on January 6 to march to the Capitol while the joint session of Congress was assembled there to count electoral votes and formalize Biden's victory, whereupon hundreds of people stormed the building and interrupted the count. During the attack, Biden addressed the nation, calling the events "an unprecedented assault unlike anything we've seen in modern times".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Will |last1=Weissert |first2=Darlene |last2=Superville |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-capitol-c68378d16055c53e3942da66e968ea6b |title=Biden urges restoring decency after 'assault' on democracy |publisher=Associated Press |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129142525/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-capitol-c68378d16055c53e3942da66e968ea6b |url-status=live}}</ref> After the Capitol was cleared, Congress officially counted the election results, with Pence, in his role as president of the Senate, announcing Biden and Harris as the winners.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On January 7, Trump acknowledged the incoming administration without mentioning Biden's name.<ref>* Template:Cite news
Presidency (2021–2025)
Template:Main Template:Liberalism US Template:For timeline
Inauguration
Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.<ref name="hunnicutt">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At 78, he was then the oldest person to assume the office up to that point.Template:Efn<ref name="hunnicutt" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden was the second Catholic U.S. president, after John F. Kennedy,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the first president elected from the state of Delaware.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was also the first person since George H. W. Bush to have been both vice president and president,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the only president to date from the Silent Generation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden's inauguration was "a muted affair unlike any previous inauguration" due to COVID-19 precautions as well as massively increased security measures because of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
First 100 days
In his first two days as president, Biden signed 17Template:Nbspexecutive orders. By his third day, orders had included rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, ending the state of national emergency at the border with Mexico, directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organization, face mask requirements on federal property, measures to combat hunger in the United States,Template:Efn and revoking permits for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Allassan|first1=Fadel|first2=Ursula|last2=Perano|date=January 20, 2021|title=Biden will issue executive order to rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit|url=https://www.axios.com/biden-keystone-pipeline-9ffcedfb-42c1-4778-8183-27d858f0c966.html%7Cwebsite=Axios|access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Massie|first=Graeme|date=January 23, 2021|title=Canada's Trudeau 'disappointed' with Biden order to cancel Keystone pipeline|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trudeau-biden-keystone-xl-pipeline-b1791756.html%7Carchive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trudeau-biden-keystone-xl-pipeline-b1791756.html%7Carchive-date=June 9, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=The Independent|access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Nickel|first1=Rod|last2=Volcovici|first2=Valerie|date=January 21, 2021|title=TC Energy cuts jobs as Keystone pipeline nixed, but markets start to move on|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-keystone-idUSKBN29Q1T8%7Caccess-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref>
On March 11, Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus and relief package that he had proposed to support the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=March 11, 2021 |title=H.R.1319 – American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313014919/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |publisher=United States Congress}}</ref> The package included direct payments to most Americans, an extension of increased unemployment benefits, funds for vaccine distribution and school reopenings, and expansions of health insurance subsidies and the child tax credit. Biden's initial proposal included an increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, but after the Senate parliamentarian determined that including the increase in a budget reconciliation bill would violate Senate rules, Democrats removed it.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Luhby |first1=Tami |last2=Lobosco |first2=Katie |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here's what's in Biden's $1.9 trillion economic rescue package |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218023132/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/14/politics/biden-economic-rescue-package-coronavirus-stimulus/index.html |archive-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |last2=Crowley |first2=Michael |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Here are the highlights of Biden's $1.9 trillion 'American Rescue Plan.' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |url-access=limited |access-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/biden-american-rescue-plan.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Kaplan |first1=Thomas |date=March 7, 2021 |title=What's in the Stimulus Bill? A Guide to Where the $1.9 Trillion Is Going |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |url-access=limited |access-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021}}Template:Cbignore</ref>
Also in March, amid a rise in migrants entering the U.S. from Mexico, Biden said migrant adults were "being sent back", in reference to the continuation of the Trump administration's Title 42 policy for quick deportations.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=March 17, 2021 |title=Biden administration faces pressure on immigration amid influx |publisher=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/17/biden-administration-faces-pressure-on-immigration-amid-surge |url-status=live |access-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319221757/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/17/biden-administration-faces-pressure-on-immigration-amid-surge |archive-date=March 19, 2021}}</ref> He earlier announced that his administration would not deport unaccompanied migrant children; the rise in arrivals of such children exceeded the capacity of facilities meant to shelter them, leading the Biden administration in March to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Miroff |first1=Nick |date=March 13, 2021|title=Biden will deploy FEMA to care for teenagers and children crossing border in record numbers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/fema-border-unaccompanied-minors/2021/03/13/738366a4-8455-11eb-bb5a-ad9a91faa4ef_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 23, 2021}}</ref>
On April 14, Biden announced that the United States would delay the withdrawal of all troops from the war in Afghanistan until September 11, signaling an end to the country's direct military involvement in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Biden, Setting Afghanistan Withdrawal, Says 'It Is Time to End the Forever War' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/us/politics/biden-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal.html%7Carchive-date=December 28, 2021|url-access=limited |work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=April 23, 2021}}Template:Cbignore</ref> In February 2020, the Trump administration had made a deal with the Taliban to completely withdraw U.S. forces by May 1, 2021.<ref name="images">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=E. Sanger |first1=David |date=August 15, 2021 |title=For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816031133/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/15/us/politics/afghanistan-biden.html |archive-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Biden's decision met with a range of reactions, from support and relief to trepidation at the possible collapse of the Afghan government without American support.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Wadington |first=Katie |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Afghanistan withdrawal draws strong Capitol Hill reactions, making some strange alliances |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422144959/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/14/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-plan-draws-strong-reaction-capitol-hill/7220926002/ |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021 |website=USA Today}}</ref> On April 22–23, Biden held an international climate summit at which he announced that the U.S. would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%–52% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Here's what countries pledged on climate change at Biden's global summit |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429043848/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-climate-summit-2021-what-brazil-japan-canada-others-pledged.html |archive-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> On April 28, the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |last2=Boak |first2=Josh |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Biden to the nation and world: 'America is rising anew' |url=https://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429023533/https://www.startribune.com/biden-to-the-nation-and-world-america-is-rising-anew/600051057/ |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2021 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
Domestic policy
.jpg){kind=link}
On June 17, Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which officially declared Juneteenth a federal holiday.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=June 17, 2021 |title=Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday Off for Juneteenth |url=https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2021/06/most-federal-employees-will-receive-friday-juneteenth/174796/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618055747/https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2021/06/most-federal-employees-will-receive-friday-juneteenth/174796/ |archive-date=June 18, 2021 |access-date=June 17, 2021 |website=Government Executive}}</ref> In July 2021, amid a slowing of the COVID-19 vaccination rate in the country and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, Biden said that it was "gigantically important" for Americans to be vaccinated.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Jaffe |first1=Alexandra |last2=Madhani |first2=Aamer |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Biden says getting COVID-19 vaccine 'gigantically important' |work=U.S. News & World Report |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-07-22/biden-says-getting-vaccinated-gigantically-important |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826071814/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2021-07-22/biden-says-getting-vaccinated-gigantically-important |archive-date=August 26, 2021}}</ref>
In 2022, Biden endorsed a change to the Senate filibuster to allow for the passing of the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Subramanian |first=Courtney |date=January 11, 2022 |title='Let the majority prevail': Biden backs filibuster change to pass voting rights in Atlanta speech |newspaper=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/11/biden-endorses-filibuster-change-voting-rights/9165060002/ |url-status=live |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114062405/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/11/biden-endorses-filibuster-change-voting-rights/9165060002/ |archive-date=January 14, 2022}}</ref> The rules change failed when two Democratic senators joined Senate Republicans in opposing it.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Foran |first1=Clare |last2=Zaslav |first2=Ali |last3=Barrett |first3=Ted |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Senate Democrats suffer defeat on voting rights after vote to change rules fails |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409161903/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/politics/senate-voting-legislation-filibuster/index.html |archive-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, Biden signed into law the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 to revamp the finances and operations of the United States Postal Service agency.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Fossum |first1=Sam |last2=Vasquez |first2=Maegan |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Biden signs US Postal Service reform bill into law |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/06/politics/biden-postal-service-reform-law-signing/index.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> Biden supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act aimed to address gun reform issues following the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas;<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=June 23, 2022 |title=Statement of Administration Policy |agency=White House |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Bipartisan-Safer-Communities-Act-SAP-1.pdf |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> he signed the bill on June 25, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Weissert |first=Will |date=June 25, 2022 |title=Biden signs landmark gun measure, says 'lives will be saved' |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-signs-gun-violence-bill-c21249287f976c2c164d8753205c2e6d |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>
The Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 was introduced in 2021 and signed into law by Biden on August 10, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shabad |first1=Rebecca |last2=Egan |first2=Lauren |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Biden signs bill to expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/10/biden-signs-bill-to-expand-benefits-for-veterans-exposed-to-toxic-burn-pits.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref> The act intended to significantly improve healthcare access and funding for veterans who were exposed to toxic substances, including burn pits, during military service.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Dean |first1=Jessica |last2=Zaslav |first2=Ali |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Senate passes long-sought bill to help veterans affected by burn pits |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/02/politics/senate-vote-burn-pits/index.html |access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and requires the federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial marriages.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Biden Signs Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Rights |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/us/politics/biden-same-sex-marriage-bill.html |access-date=December 14, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In June 2024, Biden issued an executive action offering amnesty to unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens. The program included a pathway to U.S. residency and citizenship and was expected to initially affect about 500,000 people. It was later struck down due to a lack of legislation empowering the president to enact the program.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=June 19, 2024 |title=Biden immigration program offers legal status to 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens. Here's how it works. |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-immigration-program-offers-legal-status-immigrant-spouses-of-u-s-citizens/ |first=Camilo |last=Montoya-Galvez}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=November 8, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Judge rejects Biden plan for undocumented spouses |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5287xy71do}}</ref>
In January 2025, Biden declared the lapsed Equal Rights Amendment ratified as the "28th Amendment" to the constitution. The declaration has no formal effect<ref name="Stokols">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Stokols |first1=Eli |last2=Cancryn |first2=Adam |title=Biden declares the ERA the law of the land — but it likely will not matter |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/17/biden-era-amendment-004495 |access-date=January 17, 2025 |work=Politico |date=January 17, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden says Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, kicking off expected legal battle as he pushes through final executive actions |last1=Klein |first1=Betsy |last2=Saenz |first2=Arlette Saenz |date=January 17, 2025 |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/17/politics/joe-biden-equal-right-amendment/index.html |access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref> and the National Archives has said it does not intend to certify the amendment as part of the constitution due to "established legal, judicial, and procedural decisions".<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
Economic policy
Biden entered office nine months into a recovery from the COVID-19 recession and his first year in office was characterized by robust growth in real GDP, employment, wages, and stock market returns, amid significantly elevated inflation. Real GDP grew 5.9%, the fastest rate in 37 years.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Mutikani |first1=Lucia |date=September 29, 2022 |title=U.S. economic growth revised up; gap between GDP and GDI narrows sharply |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-economic-growth-revised-up-gap-between-gdp-gdi-narrows-sharply-2022-09-29/}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Tappe |first1=Anneken |date=January 27, 2022 |title=The US economy grew at the fastest rate in 2021 since the Reagan administration |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/economy/us-fourth-quarter-2021-gdp/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127201057/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/economy/us-fourth-quarter-2021-gdp/index.html |archive-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> Amid record job creation, the unemployment rate fell at the fastest pace on record.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Mutikani |first1=Lucia |date=January 7, 2022 |title=U.S. labor market eyes maximum employment despite underwhelming December payrolls |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-employment-growth-misses-expectations-unemployment-rate-falls-39-2022-01-07/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121221243/https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-employment-growth-misses-expectations-unemployment-rate-falls-39-2022-01-07/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Pickert |first1=Reade |date=January 7, 2022 |title=U.S. Sees Record Job Growth in 2021 After Millions Lost in 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-07/u-s-sees-record-job-growth-in-2021-after-millions-lost-in-2020 |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129065310/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-07/u-s-sees-record-job-growth-in-2021-after-millions-lost-in-2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PAYEMS%7Ctitle=All Employees, Total Nonfarm|publisher=fred.stlouisfed.org|access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref> By the end of 2021, inflation rates measured by the consumer price index (CPI) reached a nearly 40-year high of 7.1%, which was partially offset by the highest nominal wage and salary growth in at least 20 years. The inflation rate peaked at 9% in June 2022.Template:Efn The inflation rate reached 2.9% and core inflation rate reached 3.2% on an annual basis in December 2024, the last full month of Biden's term. Between December 2020 and December 2024, CPI rose 21.3% overall, with an annualized inflation rate of 5.3% throughout Biden's term in office. The inflation rate remained above the Federal Reserve's 2% target every month since March 2021, resulting in elevated interest rates to combat inflation. Average wages increased 19% throughout Biden's presidency, falling behind inflation. The unemployment rate declined by over 2% and real GDP grew 11% during Biden's term. Total household net worth increased by 28%, largely driven by stocks and real estate. The national debt grew to $36.2 trillion, with a debt to GDP ratio of 123% and a deficit to GDP ratio of 6% in FY 2024.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name = "chartingecon">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 19, 2025 |title=Charting the Biden economy: Despite all the growth and jobs, a deeply unpopular president |agency=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/19/charting-the-biden-economy-deeply-unpopular-despite-growth-and-jobs.html%7Cquote=Joe Biden leaves the presidency with what appears to be a sterling economic record. There's just one problem, and it is one that will forever taint the 46th president's legacy. Inflation and its onerous burden on households, particularly at the lower end of the income spectrum, dwarfed all the other good that happened on Biden's watch.}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In February 2023, the unemployment rate fell to 3.4%, a 53-year low.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Amid a surge in inflation and high gas prices, Biden's approval ratings declined, with his disapproval rating surpassing his approval rating in early 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Mattingly |first2=Phil |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Biden is aiming to hit the road to reset his presidency. He starts with yet another stop in Pennsylvania. |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/politics/joe-biden-pittsburgh-trip/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204225558/https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/28/politics/joe-biden-pittsburgh-trip/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=President Biden Job Approval |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president-biden-job-approval-7320.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124133936/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president-biden-job-approval-7320.html |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |access-date=February 10, 2022 |website=RealClearPolitics}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> After 5.9% growth in 2021, real GDP growth cooled in 2022 to 2.1%, after slightly negative growth in the first half spurred recession concerns. Job creation and consumer spending remained strong, as the unemployment rate fell to match a 53-year low of 3.5% in December. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June before easing to 3.2% by October 2023. Stocks had had their worst year since 2008<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bhattarai |first1=Abha |date=January 26, 2023 |title=U.S. economy grew 2.1 percent in 2022, but recession fears linger |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/01/26/gdp-2022-q4-economy/}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|author1=Jesse Pound |author2=Samantha Subin |date=December 30, 2022 |title=Stocks fall to end Wall Street's worst year since 2008, S&P 500 finishes 2022 down nearly 20% |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/29/stock-market-futures-open-to-close-news.html}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Iacurci |first1=Greg |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Here's the inflation breakdown for December 2022 — in one chart |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/12/heres-the-inflation-breakdown-for-december-2022-in-one-chart.html}}</ref> before recovering. Widespread predictions of an imminent recession did not materialize in 2022 or 2023, and by late 2023 indicators showed sharply lower inflation with economic acceleration. GDP growth hit 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023 and the year ended with stocks near record highs, with robust holiday spending.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Harrison |first1=David |date=October 23, 2023 |title=The Economy Was Supposed to Slow by Now. Instead It's Revving Up. |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-economy-was-supposed-to-slow-by-now-instead-its-revving-up-3c0f7a2e |url-access=subscription |quote=Recent economic data suggest the economy is accelerating despite higher borrowing costs, the resumption of student-loan payments, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East ... Analysts, many of whom had expected a recession this year, are pushing up their forecasts ... After predicting a recession for the past year, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal this month said they now believe that the economy will avoid a downturn in the next 12 months. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122184856/https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-economy-was-supposed-to-slow-by-now-instead-its-revving-up-3c0f7a2e |archive-date=November 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=October 26, 2023 |title=GDP surged 4.9% in the third quarter, defying the Fed's rate hikes |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gdp-third-quarter-4-9-economic-growth/ |access-date=November 21, 2023 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Robust holiday shopping sends economy soaring into 2024 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/12/26/holiday-sales-retail-mastercard/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 26, 2023|first1=Rachel |last1=Siegel |first2=Aaron |last2=Gregg}}</ref>
Biden signed numerous major pieces of economic legislation in the 117th Congress, including the American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Jones |first=Dustin |title=Despite infighting, it's been a surprisingly productive 2 years for Democrats |date=January 2023 |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143149435/despite-infighting-its-been-a-surprisingly-productive-2-years-for-democrats}}</ref> He signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law on August 9, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shepardson |first1=David |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff |date=August 10, 2022 |title=Biden signs bill to boost U.S. chips, compete with China |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/biden-sign-bill-boost-us-chips-compete-with-china-2022-08-09/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> It provided billions of dollars in new funding to boost domestic research on and manufacture of semiconductors, to compete economically with China.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In his third month in office, Biden also signed an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15 per hour. The order went into effect for 390,000 workers in January 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden raising minimum wage for federal contractors to $15/hr |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-raises-minimum-wage-federal-contractors-15hr-2021-04-27/ |publisher=Reuters |date=April 27, 2021|author1=Nandita Bose|author2=Jarrett Renshaw}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Juliana |last=Kaplan |access-date=August 14, 2023 |title=Nearly 400,000 federal contractors will get paid $15 an hour starting this weekend. Biden's labor secretary says there's 'no question' it'll cut down on labor shortages. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-contractors-15-hour-minimum-wage-could-end-labor-shortges-2022-1 |work=Business Insider |date=January 28, 2022}}</ref> His administration rigorously enforced antitrust law.
In 2022, Biden blocked a national railroad strike planned by multiple labor unions.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=David |last1=Shepardson |first2=Nandita |last2=Bose |date=December 2, 2022 |access-date=October 1, 2024 |title=Biden signs bill to block U.S. railroad strike |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-signs-bill-block-us-railroad-strike-2022-12-02/ }}</ref> During the United Auto Workers strike, he expressed support for the workers.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=September 15, 2023 |title=UAW strike: Biden says striking car workers deserve 'fair share' |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66822558 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915171936/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66822558 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden joined striking UAW workers' picket line in Michigan, becoming the first president to join a picket line.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=September 26, 2023|title=Biden visits the picket line in Michigan to show solidarity with striking UAW|agency=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/26/politics/biden-picket-line-michigan-uaw/index.html%7Caccess-date=September 26, 2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926185932/https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/09/26/politics/biden-picket-line-michigan-uaw/index.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He refused to block a port strike from the International Longshoremen's Association in October 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Ry |last1=Rivard |first2=Cassandra |last2=Dumay |date=October 1, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Biden won't step in to stop dockworker strike |newspaper=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/01/biden-administration-dockworker-strike-00181839 }}</ref>
Over the course of five days in March 2023, three small- to mid-size U.S. banks failed, triggering a sharp decline in global bank stock prices and swift response by regulators to prevent potential global contagion. After Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, the first to do so, Biden expressed opposition to a bailout by taxpayers.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Cathey |first=Libby |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Amid crisis, Biden tells Americans 'banking system is safe' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-speaks-banking-crisis/story?id=97820883 |access-date=March 13, 2023 |agency=ABC News}}</ref> He claimed that the partial rollback of Dodd-Frank regulations contributed to the bank's failure.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Hunnicutt |first=Trevor |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Biden vows new bank rules after SVB collapse, cites Trump rollback |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/biden-defend-us-banking-system-after-svb-signature-collapse-2023-03-13/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref>
At the beginning of the 118th Congress, Biden and congressional Republicans engaged in a standoff after the U.S. hit its debt limit, which raised the risk that the U.S. would default on its debt.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Diamond |first1=Jeremy |last2=Fox |first2=Lauren |last3=Zanona |first3=Melanie |last4=Mattingly |first4=Phil |last5=Saenz |first5=Arlette |last6=Liptak |first6=Kevin |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Inside a debt ceiling standoff 'far more dangerous than people will recognize' |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/31/politics/biden-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-behind-the-scenes/index.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> Biden and House speaker Kevin McCarthy struck a deal to raise the debt limit, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which suspended the debt limit until January 2025. Biden signed it on June 3, averting a default.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Megerian |first1=Chris |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Biden signs debt ceiling bill that pulls US back from brink of unprecedented default |publisher=Associated Press News |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053 |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref> The deal was generally seen as favorable to Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Baker |first1=Peter |date=June 1, 2023 |title=The Calm Man in the Capital: Biden Lets Others Spike the Ball but Notches a Win |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/us/politics/biden-mccarthy-debt-ceiling-deal-who-won.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |date=June 3, 2023 |title=Biden's Debt Deal Strategy: Win in the Fine Print |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/03/us/politics/biden-debt-ceiling-deal.html |access-date=June 11, 2023}}</ref>
Biden extended the COVID-19 student loan pause through September 2023, with an "on ramp" period that extended some of the pause's protections against credit reporting, collection efforts, and late payment fees through September 30, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Biden administration's attempts to implement student loan forgiveness and relief programs have faced legal challenges from a coalition of Republican-led states.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden's plans to forgive student loan debt were estimated to cost over $519 billion,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=August 26, 2022 |title=The Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Plan: Budgetary Costs and Distributional Impact |url=https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2022/8/26/biden-student-loan-forgiveness#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%20debt%20cancellation,will%20cost%20another%20$16%20billion. |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Penn Wharton Budget Model}}</ref> and some critics called them a "disaster".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Judiciary
.jpg){kind=link}
By the end of 2021, 40 of his nominees to the federal judiciary had been confirmed, more than any president in his first year in office since Ronald Reagan.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Raymond |first1=Nate |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Biden finishes 2021 with most confirmed judicial picks since Reagan |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-finishes-2021-with-most-confirmed-judicial-picks-since-reagan-2021-12-28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201053907/https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-finishes-2021-with-most-confirmed-judicial-picks-since-reagan-2021-12-28/ |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Biden prioritized diversity in his judicial appointments more than any president in U.S. history, with most of his appointees being women and people of color.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Johnson |first=Carrie |date=December 28, 2021 |title=Biden had a productive year picking federal judges. The job could get tougher in 2022 |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204171925/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/28/1067206141/biden-federal-judges-nominations-diverse |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>
In January 2022, Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire. During his 2020 campaign, Biden vowed to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurred,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Totenberg |first=Nina |date=January 26, 2022 |title=Justice Stephen Breyer, an influential liberal on the Supreme Court, to retire |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204091216/https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075781724/justice-stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retires |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> a promise he reiterated after Breyer announced his retirement.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Chung |first1=Andrew |last2=Hurley |first2=Lawrence |last3=Holland |first3=Steve |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Biden vows to nominate Black woman to U.S. Supreme Court by end of February |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/retiring-us-justice-breyer-appear-with-biden-white-house-2022-01-27/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202194132/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/retiring-us-justice-breyer-appear-with-biden-white-house-2022-01-27/ |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> On February 25, Biden nominated federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> She was sworn in on June 30.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Bustillo |first1=Ximena |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as first Black woman on the Supreme Court |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/30/1108714345/ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-oath-swearing-in |access-date=July 5, 2022 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> By the end of his presidency, Biden had appointed 235 judges, more appointments in a single term than any other president in at least 50 years. 63% of Biden's judges were women and 60% were non-white.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |first1=Cooper |last1=Burton |first2=Amina |last2=Brown |title=How Biden reshaped the judiciary |url=https://abcnews.go.com/538/biden-reshaped-judiciary/story?id=117717279 |agency =ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=January 9, 2025 |title=How presidents compare on the racial, ethnic diversity of their appointed judges |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/09/how-biden-compares-with-other-recent-presidents-in-appointing-federal-judges/sr_25-01-09_biden-judges_3/ |publisher=Pew Research}}</ref> Biden expressed interest in judicial term limits and a binding ethics code for Supreme Court justices.<ref name="BidenSCOTUSreform">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Madhani|first1=Aamer|last2=Long|first2=Colleen|title=Biden decries 'extremism' on Supreme Court, details plan for term limits, ethics code for justices|url=https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-reform-biden-harris-trump-ffd48f3a2023aeca841bb53c2147ef03%7Cdate=July 29, 2024|access-date=August 16, 2024|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>
Infrastructure and climate
.jpg){kind=link}
As part of Biden's Build Back Better agenda, in late March 2021, he proposed the American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion package addressing issues including transport infrastructure, utilities infrastructure, broadband infrastructure, housing, schools, manufacturing, research and workforce development.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Renshaw |first2=Jarrett |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Biden says $2 trillion jobs plan rivals the space race in its ambition |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-infrastructure-idUSKBN2BN13C |url-status=live |access-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413130443/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-infrastructure-idUSKBN2BN13C |archive-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Siegel |first1=Rachel |date=March 31, 2021 |title=What's in Biden's $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure plan? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401015541/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/31/what-is-in-biden-infrastructure-plan/ |archive-date=April 1, 2021}}</ref> After months of negotiations among Biden and lawmakers, in August 2021 the Senate passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Romm |first1=Tony |date=August 10, 2021 |title=Senate approves bipartisan, $1 trillion infrastructure bill, bringing major Biden goal one step closer |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-vote-biden/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929154828/https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-vote-biden/ |archive-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |date=August 10, 2021 |title=Senate passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending key part of Biden's economic agenda to the House |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/senate-to-pass-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108112959/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/senate-to-pass-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html |archive-date=November 8, 2021}}</ref> while the House, also in a bipartisan manner, approved that bill in early November 2021, covering infrastructure related to transport, utilities, and broadband.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Jalonick |first1=Mary Clare |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Roads, transit, internet: What's in the infrastructure bill |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d |url-status=live |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107214148/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d |archive-date=November 7, 2021}}</ref> Biden signed the bill into law in mid-November 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Boak |first1=Josh |last2=Long |first2=Colleen |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Biden signs $1T infrastructure deal with bipartisan crowd |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144 |url-status=live |access-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116045821/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144 |archive-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref>
The other core part of the Build Back Better agenda was the Build Back Better Act, a $3.5 trillion social spending bill that expands the social safety net and includes major provisions on climate change.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |date=August 11, 2021 |title=Senate approves framework of $3.5 trillion budget plan that would expand Medicare, tax credits and climate initiatives |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/senate-passes-3point5-trillion-budget-resolution-after-infrastructure-bill.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411025307/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/senate-passes-3point5-trillion-budget-resolution-after-infrastructure-bill.html |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Frazin |first=Rachel |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Democratic senator: Reconciliation package to include clean electricity standard |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/562983-senator-expects-clean-electricity-standard-to-be-part-of/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026222513/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/562983-senator-expects-clean-electricity-standard-to-be-part-of |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |newspaper=The Hill |accessdate=April 13, 2022}}</ref> Democrats attempted to pass it on a party-line vote through budget reconciliation, but struggled to win the support of Senator Joe Manchin, even as the price was lowered to $2.2 trillion.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first1=Nancy |last1=Cordes |first2=Ellis |last2=Kim |first3=Ed |last3=O'Keefe |first4=Weijia |last4=Jiang |first5=Jordan |last5=Freiman |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Biden sets $1.9 – $2.2 trillion price range for social safety net bill in call with House progressives |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-reconciliation-bill-house-democrats-progressives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023023747/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-reconciliation-bill-house-democrats-progressives/ |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref> After Manchin rejected the bill,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Seipel |first1=Arnie |last2=Hernandez |first2=Joe |date=December 19, 2021 |title=Joe Manchin says he won't support President Biden's Build Back Better plan |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065636709/joe-manchin-says-he-cannot-support-bidens-build-back-better-plan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411025452/https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065636709/joe-manchin-says-he-cannot-support-bidens-build-back-better-plan |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |accessdate=April 13, 2022 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> it was comprehensively reworked into the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, covering deficit reduction, climate change, healthcare, and tax reform.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Dennis |first=Brady |date=August 14, 2022 |title=As Congress funds high-tech climate solutions, it also bets on a low-tech one: Nature |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/08/14/nature-climate-solutions-inflation-reduction-act/ |access-date=August 29, 2022}}</ref>
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was introduced by Manchin and Senator Chuck Schumer.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bose |first1=Nandita |last2=Holland |first2=Steve |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Biden signs inflation act, hands pen to Manchin |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-signs-430-billion-climate-healthcare-tax-bill-2022-08-16/ |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Walters |first1=Joanna |last2=Helmore |first2=Edward |date=July 31, 2022 |title=Joe Manchin hails expansive bill he finally agrees to as 'great for America' |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/31/joe-manchin-hails-deal-inflation-reduction-act |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref> The package aimed to raise $739 billion and authorize $370 billion in spending on energy and climate change, $300 billion in deficit reduction, three years of Affordable Care Act subsidies, prescription drug reform to lower prices, and tax reform.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Greve |first=Joan E. |date=August 7, 2022 |title=Senate passes $739bn healthcare and climate bill after months of wrangling |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/07/inflation-reduction-act-senate-democrats-pass |access-date=August 21, 2022}}</ref> According to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, the bill will lower U.S. greenhouse gas emissions between 31 percent and 44 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.<ref name="Joan">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=E Greve |first1=Joan |date=August 12, 2022 |title=US House passes Democrats' landmark healthcare and climate bill |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/12/us-house-passes-climate-bill-inflation-reduction-act |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> On August 7, 2022, the Senate passed the bill (as amended) on a 51–50 vote, with all Democrats voting in favor, all Republicans opposed, and Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. Biden signed the bill on August 16.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Pitas |first=Costas |date=August 13, 2022 |title=Biden to sign $430 billion climate and tax bill into law next week |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-sign-430-bln-climate-tax-bill-into-law-next-week-2022-08-12/ |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shabad |first1=Rebecca |last2=Egan |first2=Lauren |date=August 16, 2022 |title=Biden signs major climate, health care and tax bill into law |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-sign-major-climate-health-care-spending-bill-rcna43269 |access-date=August 16, 2022 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref>
Before and during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Biden promoted an agreement that the U.S. and the European Union cut methane emissions by a third by 2030 and tried to add dozens of other countries to the effort.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Natter |first1=Ari |last2=A Dlouhy |first2=Jennifer |last3=Krukowska |first3=Ewa |title=U.S. and EU Vow Steep Methane Cuts Ahead of Climate Summit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-14/u-s-and-eu-to-pledge-steep-methane-cuts-ahead-of-climate-summit |access-date=September 17, 2021 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=September 14, 2021 |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917193105/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-14/u-s-and-eu-to-pledge-steep-methane-cuts-ahead-of-climate-summit |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden pledged to double climate funding to developing countries by 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden pledges to double U.S. climate change aid; some activists unimpressed |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-seeks-double-climate-change-aid-developing-nations-biden-2021-09-21/ |first= Valerie |last=Volcovici |access-date=September 29, 2021 |publisher=Reuters |date=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925130818/https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-seeks-double-climate-change-aid-developing-nations-biden-2021-09-21/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Also at COP26, the U.S. and China reached a deal on greenhouse gas emission reduction. The two countries are responsible for 40 percent of global emissions.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=COP26: Cautious welcome for unexpected US-China climate agreement |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59243434 |access-date=November 15, 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=November 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114161429/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59243434 |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2023, when heat waves hit the United States, Biden announced measures to protect the population and said the heat waves were linked to climate change.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/27/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-new-actions-to-protect-workers-and-communities-from-extreme-heat/ |publisher=The White House |date=July 27, 2023 |access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Sprunt |first1=Barbara |title=Biden rolled out some new measures to respond to extreme heat as temperatures soar |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1190435892/biden-extreme-heat-climate |access-date=August 15, 2023 |publisher=NPR |date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> In April 2024, he unveiled a plan to protect and restore natural water sources (3.2 million hectares of wetlands and 161,000 km of waterways).<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden sets new target to protect vast US water sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-sets-new-target-protect-vast-us-water-sources-2024-04-23/ |publisher=Reuters |date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref>
Biden protected 674 million acres of land and ocean from natural resource exploitation, more than any other president. The vast majority of the conservation came from a ban on offshore drilling in 625 million acres of ocean.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Wilson |first1=Janet |last2=Coulter |first2=Tom |title=Biden to create two new national monuments in California |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/01/07/president-biden-new-national-monuments-california/77503768007/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |newspaper=USA today |date=January 7, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Nilsen |first1=Ella |title=President Biden to establish two new national monuments in California |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/climate/biden-national-monuments/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2025 |agency=CNN |date=January 7, 2025}}</ref>
Immigration
Illegal border crossings at the Mexico–United States border began to surge in 2021 when Biden assumed office,Template:Efn reaching an all-time monthly high in December 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Debusmann |first1=Bernd Jr. |title=Three reasons why so many migrants want to cross from Mexico to US |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68208637 |publisher=BBC News |date=February 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Gramlich |first1=John |title=2023 ended with more migrant encounters at U.S.-Mexico border than any month on record |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/02/15/migrant-encounters-at-the-us-mexico-border-hit-a-record-high-at-the-end-of-2023/sr_24-02-15_borderencounters_1-png/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |date=February 15, 2024}}</ref> Throughout 2024, crossings began to significantly decline from the December record, after Biden implemented restrictions on asylum claims from migrants who cross the border between ports of entry and urged Mexico to crack down on migrants.<ref name="cbs-border-crossings">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 1, 2024 |title=Illegal crossings at U.S.-Mexico border fall to 3-year low, the lowest level under Biden |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/border-crossings-us-mexico-border-june-2024/ |publisher = CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=April 30, 2024 |title=A quieter border eases pressure on Biden, with a hand from Mexico |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2024/04/30/united-states-mexico-border-surge-biden/ |newspaper = The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=June 26, 2024 |title=Biden border restrictions bring sharp drop in illegal crossings |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2024/06/26/border-crossings-drop-biden-closures/ |newspaper = The Washington Post}}</ref> Deportations from October 2023 to September 2024 reached the highest level since 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Alvarez |first=Priscilla |date=December 19, 2024 |title=Biden carried out the highest level of deportations since 2014, new report says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/19/politics/biden-deportations-report/index.html |access-date=December 21, 2024 |agency=CNN}}</ref> Biden used humanitarian parole to mitigate illegal border crossings, allowing migrants to fly into the U.S. or schedule their entries through official entry points in the U.S.-Mexico border. Over a million migrants had been admitted to the U.S. under humanitarian parole as of January 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 22, 2024 |title=Biden administration has admitted more than 1 million migrants into U.S. under parole policy Congress is considering restricting |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-parole-biden-administration-1-million-migrants/ |publisher=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=March 11, 2024|title=What Is Humanitarian Parole? How an Obscure Biden Immigration Policy Became So Controversial |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/humanitarian-parole-immigration-border-policy-controversy-eb4d63a9 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=March 8, 2024|title=Program that allows 30,000 migrants from 4 countries into the US each month upheld by judge |url=https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-haiti-cuba-nicaragua-venezuela-trial-fac9dc853231ba04ff0ea4e7442057ef |publisher=Associated Press News}}</ref>
In January 2024, Biden expressed support for a proposed bipartisan immigration deal led by Senators Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford. He had previously supported the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which he proposed on his first day in office.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Jacobson |first=Don | url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/01/27/Biden-voices-support-Senate-border-bill-new-emergency-powers/7161706363564/ | title=Biden voices support for Senate border bill with new 'emergency' powers | publisher=United Press International | date=January 27, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Montoya-Galvez |first1=Camilo |last2=Brennan |first2=Margaret |last3=Escobedo |first3=Richard | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-deal-biden-senate-us-mexico-border-bill/ | title=Biden and senators on verge of striking immigration deal aimed at clamping down on illegal border crossings | agency=CBS News | date=January 28, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> The proposed bipartisan bill would have allowed DHS to close the border when encounters reach a seven-day average of 5,000 or exceed 8,500 in a single day.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Desjardins |first1=Lisa |last2=Midura |first2=Kyle | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-the-bipartisan-border-deal-would-transform-the-u-s-immigration-system | title=How the bipartisan border deal would transform the U.S. immigration system | website=PBS News | date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Scholtes |first1=Jennifer |last2=Emma |first2=Caitlin | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/05/biden-bipartisan-immigration-deal-00139558 | title=Detention and that border 'shutdown': What's really in Biden's bipartisan immigration deal | newspaper=Politico | date=February 5, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> In addition, the bill would have mandated the detention of migrants seeking asylum and undergoing asylum interviews, with those failing the process repatriated to their home countries.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Tsirkin |first=Julie | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/does-new-immigration-bill-5000-illegal-border-crossings-per-day-rcna136656 | title=The bipartisan border deal would not allow 5,000 illegal crossings per day, despite what Trump says | publisher=NBC News | date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> While not addressing the status of "Dreamers", it would have changed immigration law to allow the children of those with H-1B visas to get work authorizations and freeze their legal ages while waiting for green cards, rather than face deportation once they turn 21, and provide additional funding for immigration judges.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Kapur |first1=Sahil |last2=Wong |first2=Scott |last3=Tsirkin |first3=Julie |last4=Ainsley |first4=Julia | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/new-immigration-asylum-reform-bill-released-senate-text-rcna136602 | title=Senators unveil bipartisan bill to impose tougher asylum and border laws | agency=NBC News | date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref>
Former president Donald Trump announced his opposition to the legislation, calling on Congressional Republicans to oppose it; subsequently, leaders such as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced their opposition, halting further legislative action.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Groves |first=Stephen | url=https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-058876834b48bacf5b3678b067d8dd9a | title=Biden urges Congress to embrace border bill. But House speaker suggests it may be 'dead on arrival' | publisher=Associated Press | date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shabad |first1=Rebecca |last2=Kapur |first2=Sahil | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-urge-congress-pass-bipartisan-border-security-bill-republicans-n-rcna137483 | title=Biden urges Congress to pass bipartisan immigration bill, says Republicans are 'caving' to Trump's demands |agency=NBC News | date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}</ref> As a result of continued high immigration levels throughout his tenure, some lawmakers and pundits have criticized Biden's handling of the southern border.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Narea |first=Nicole |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/24153132/us-border-crisis-mexico-migrant-immigration-asylum |title=America's misunderstood border crisis, in 8 charts |website=Vox |date=June 3, 2024 |access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bryant |first1=Christa Case |last2=Babcock |first2=Caitlin |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2024/0416/biden-trump-immigration-border-crossings |title=How Biden and Trump compare on border crossings and immigration |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=April 16, 2024 |access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Saad |first=Lydia |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/610322/immigration-leads-reasons-biden-detractors-disapprove.aspx |title=Immigration Leads Reasons Biden's Detractors Disapprove |publisher=Gallup, Inc. |date=February 14, 2024 |access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref> Criticism of the bill and broader immigration policy continued to be expressed by both sides, with some liberals considering his policies too harsh while some conservatives considered them too lax.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Debusmann |first=Bernd Jr. |date=May 17, 2024 |title=How Joe Biden and Donald Trump's border policies compare |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65574725 |access-date=July 8, 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Miroff |first1=Nick |last2=Sacchetti |first2=Maria |last3=Frostenson |first3=Sarah |date=February 11, 2024 |title=Trump vs. Biden on immigration: 12 charts comparing U.S. border security |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2024/02/11/trump-biden-immigration-border-compared/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On January 17, 2024, a Republican-led non-binding resolution denouncing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the U.S. southern border passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 225–187, with 211 Republicans and 14 Democrats supporting it.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Adragna |first1=Anthony |title=14 Dems vote with GOP as House condemns Biden handling of southern border |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/01/17/congress/house-gop-biden-border-rebuke-dems-00136221 |newspaper=Politico |access-date=January 18, 2025 |date=January 17, 2024}}</ref> In the final year of his presidency, the Biden administration worked to extend at least 14 contracts with private prison companies to run immigrant detention centers, despite his 2020 campaign promise to end the practice.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Olivares |first=José |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Revealed: Biden lays groundwork to expand immigration jails as Trump readies for office |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/05/biden-immigration-jails-trump-mass-deportation-plan |access-date=December 5, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In June 2024, Biden issued an executive order allowing the president to restrict the Mexico–U.S. border.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/04/us/politics/biden-executive-order-border-asylum.html |title=Biden Issues Executive Order to Temporarily Seal the Border to Asylum Seekers |date=June 4, 2024 |last1=Kanno-Youngs |first1=Zolan |last2=Aleaziz |first2=Hamed |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name="cbs-border-crossings" />
Pardons and commutations
Biden issued more individual pardons and commutations than any other president.<ref name = "APpardons"/> On October 6, 2022, he pardoned all Americans convicted of "small" amounts of cannabis possession under federal law.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On December 22, 2023, he pardoned Americans for cannabis use or possession on federal lands regardless of whether they had been charged or prosecuted.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Shivaram |first=Deepa | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/22/1221230390/biden-pardons-clemency-marijuana-drug-offenses | title=Biden expands pardons for marijuana possession and grants clemency to 11 | publisher=NPR | date=December 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Miller |first=Zeke | url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-marijuana-pardons-clemency-02abde991a05ff7dfa29bfc3c74e9d64 | title=Biden pardons thousands convicted of marijuana charges on federal lands and in Washington | publisher=Associated Press | date=December 22, 2023}}</ref> On December 12, 2024, in the largest single-day clemency act in history, Biden granted clemency to about 1,500 nonviolent felons in home confinement who had previously been released from prison.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Long |first1=Colleen | url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-clemency-4432002d67334e6716c2776fd73f3cc8 | title=Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency | publisher=Associated Press | date=December 12, 2024 |access-date=December 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Keith |first1=Tamara |last2=Shivaram |first2=Deepa | url=https://www.npr.org/2024/12/12/nx-s1-5226683/biden-commutations-pardons | title=Biden commutes sentences for 1,500 people. Some say he could do a lot more | publisher=NPR | date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=December 14, 2024}}</ref> The act generated controversy, as it included felons such as Michael Conahan, a judge involved in the kids for cash kickback scandal, and Rita Crundwell, a comptroller responsible for the single largest municipal fraud in U.S. history. The Biden administration said the offenders who received clemency "deserve a second chance" and were selected based on meeting certain criteria in a uniform decision.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/13/politics/joe-biden-commutations-pennsylvania-illinois/index.html | title=Victims 'shocked' after Biden grants clemency to 'kids-for-cash' judge and $54 million embezzler |agency=CNN |date=December 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On December 23, 2024, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Ruth |last=Comerford |title=Biden commutes most federal death sentences |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkxe4xlvgxo |agency=BBC News |date=December 23, 2024 |access-date=January 2, 2025}}</ref> On his last day in office, Biden commuted the sentence of Leonard Peltier, convicted of murdering two FBI agents, to house arrest.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Luke |last1=Barr |first2=Mark |last2=Osborne |title=Biden sparks outrage with last-minute commutation of man convicted of killing FBI agents |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-sparks-outrage-minute-commutation-leonard-peltier-man/story?id=117909582 |agency=ABC News |date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref>
Pardons of family members and political figures
Biden issued more pardons for members of his family than any other president.<ref name="lastpardonnyt"/> On December 1, 2024, he issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to Hunter Biden that covered all federal offenses between 2014 and December 1, 2024. The pardon's sweeping extent was "unprecedented".<ref name=":2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> According to Reason magazine, Hunter Biden's pardon was even more far-reaching than Richard Nixon's or other "controversial"<ref name=":2" /> pardons:
The Hunter pardon is far more comprehensive...in that it covered not just his convictions for drug-related activities and tax fraud, but any other criminal behavior since 2014—the year that Hunter joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. It has been alleged that Hunter's job was essentially to trade on the family name and sell his access to dad. This may not have been illegal, but it does mean that the pardon is clearly designed to offer preemptive protection not just to Hunter, but to Joe Biden himself. These features make the pardon unprecedented, though perfectly in line with the president's executive powers.
Hunter had been convicted on charges related to tax and gun offenses, after which Joe made numerous promises not to pardon him. He and his staff continued to say that Hunter would not be pardoned as late as November, although internal staff discussions affirmed that the option remained on the table even as Biden said otherwise.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Hubbard |first1=Kaia |last2=Freiman |first2=Jordan |date=December 1, 2024 |title=President Biden pardons son Hunter Biden |agency=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hunter-biden-padon/ |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=December 2, 2024 |title=Joe Biden pardons his son, Hunter Biden |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5016851-biden-pardons-his-son-hunter/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |newspaper=The Hill}}</ref><ref name="NBCpardon" /> Biden and his family finalized the decision to pardon Hunter without consulting senior staff.<ref name="nytdec2">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=December 2, 2024 |title=How Biden Changed His Mind on Pardoning Hunter: 'Time to End All of This' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/us/politics/hunter-biden-pardon-decision.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In a statement announcing the pardon, Biden said he believed his son was "selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted", blaming "political pressure" for the collapse of a plea bargain. The plea bargain actually fell apart after the presiding judge asked about its unusual construction.<ref name="White House 2024" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Morin |first=Rebecca |title=President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden despite pledges not to |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/12/01/president-joe-biden-hunter-biden-pardon/76693183007/ |access-date=December 2, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first1=Katie |last1=Rogers |first2=Glenn |last2=Thrush |date=December 2, 2024 |title=Judge Scuppered Hunter Biden Plea Deal, Not Political Pressure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/us/politics/biden-pardon-political-pressure.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Biden's pardon came amid incoming December sentencing dates for Hunter for his convictions and concerns about the succeeding Trump administration potentially targeting political rivals for prosecution.<ref name="nytdec2" /> Biden said, "I hope Americans will understand why a father and a president would come to this decision."<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Marshall |last1=Cohen |first2=Betsy |last2=Klein |date=December 2, 2024 |title=President Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/01/politics/hunter-biden-joe-biden-pardon/index.html |access-date=December 2, 2024 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>
On his last day in office, Biden issued pardons for more of his family members and other high-profile figures.<ref name="lastpardonnyt">{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Peter |last1=Baker |first2=Michael D. |last2=Shear |authorlink2=Michael D. Shear |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Biden in Final Hours Pardons Relatives and Others to Thwart Trump Reprisals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/biden-pardons-fauci-milley-cheney-jan-6.html |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref> The pardons covered Biden's siblings and their spouses, including James Biden, who was interviewed as part of an impeachment probe into Biden. Others pardoned that day include former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci, and members and participants in the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, despite many of those pardoned not having been under criminal investigation.<ref name="lastpardonnyt"/><ref name = "APpardons">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 20, 2025 |title=Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and the Jan. 6 panel. It's a guard against potential 'revenge' by Trump |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-fauci-milley-pardons-january-6-3cba287f89051513fb48d7ae700ae747 |work = Associated Press News}}</ref> Biden justified the pardons by citing his concern about "baseless and politically motivated investigations" during Trump's second term.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Biden pardons his family in final minutes in office |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/20/biden-pardons-family-members.html |agency = CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Debusmann |first1=Bernd Jr. |last2=Wong |first2=Vicky | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r5g5dezk4o | title=Biden issues pre-emptive pardons for siblings, Fauci and Jan 6 riot panel | publisher=BBC News | date=January 10, 2025 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Saenz |first2=Arlette | url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/20/politics/joe-biden-preemptive-pardons/index.html | title=Biden issues preemptive pardons for Trump critics and Biden family members | publisher=CNN | date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=February 10, 2025}}</ref> Biden added that the pardons were preemptive and should not be seen as implying their recipients' guilt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Erin |last=Doherty |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Biden pardons family members minutes before leaving office |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/01/20/biden-family-pardons-white-house-donald-trump |website = Axios}}</ref> The pardons Biden granted to his family and other political figures had a sweeping scope similar to the one he granted Hunter, covering federal offenses the recipients committed or may have committed between 2014 and the day of the pardon.<ref name = "APpardons"/><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Kyle |last=Cheney |date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Joe Biden pardons several family members |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/20/biden-pardons-family-members-00199331 |website = Politico}}</ref>
Biden also pardoned two other Democratic officials on his last day in office: Ernest William Cromartie, convicted of tax evasion, and Gerald G. Lundergan, convicted of a scheme to funnel money to his daughter's Senate campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Michael D. |last=Shear |authorlink=Michael D. Shear |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Biden Pardons 5 Members of His Family in Final Minutes in Office |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/biden-pardons-family.html |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Biden pardons former Ky. Democratic Party leader moments before leaving office |url=https://www.wkyt.com/2025/01/20/biden-pardons-former-ky-democratic-party-leader-moments-before-leaving-office/ |website = WKYT-TV}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Former Columbia councilman Cromartie, previously jailed for tax evasion, pardoned by Biden |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article298849453.html |newspaper = The State}}</ref>
2022 elections
.jpg){kind=link}
On September 2, 2022, in a nationally broadcast Philadelphia speech, Biden called for a "battle for the soul of the nation". Off camera, he called Trump supporters "semi-fascists", which Republican commentators denounced.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Cook |first2=Sara |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Biden delivers prime-time speech on the "battle for the soul of the nation" in Philadelphia |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/biden-speech-philadelphia-democracy-watch-live-stream-today-2022-09-01/ |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Weisman |first=Jonathan |date=September 2, 2022 |title=Four takeaways from President Biden's speech in Philadelphia |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-nyt-biden-philadelphia-speech-20220902-zsfckr7n7jf4rbowcu6e2pre2i-story.html |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Naughtie |first=Andrew |date=September 5, 2022 |title=Jan 6 committee members back Biden remarks on Trump 'fascism' after rally guest defends neo-Nazi rioter: Joe Biden's warnings of creeping fascism on the pro-Trump right have fired up ex-president's followers and dissenters alike |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jan-6-trump-fascism-rally-lofgren-raskin-b2159938.html |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> A predicted Republican wave election did not materialize and the race for U.S. Congress control was much closer than expected, with Republicans securing a slim majority of [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections|222Template:Nbspseats in the House of Representatives]],Template:Efn and the Democratic caucus keeping control of the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=November 8, 2022 |title=2022 Election: Live Analysis and Results |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/2022-midterm-election/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref>Template:Efn
It was the first midterm election since 1986 in which the incumbent president's party achieved a net gain in governorships, and the first since 1934 in which the president's party lost no state legislative chambers.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Enten |first=Harry |date=November 13, 2022 |title=How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house/index.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Democrats credited Biden for their unexpectedly strong performance,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Lauren |last=Gambino |date=November 20, 2022 |title='You did it!': Biden basks in midterms afterglow after beating expectations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/20/joe-biden-midterms-democrats-presidency |access-date=November 28, 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> but they likely overperformed for other reasons, including the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and poor Republican candidate quality in many races.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/11/democrats-2022-error-message/680661/%7Ctitle=The Democrats' 2022 Error Message|quote=Swing-state successes in the last midterms gave the party false optimism about 2024.|first1=Ronald|last1=Brownstein| author-link=Ronald Brownstein|work=The Atlantic|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Silver |first=Nate |authorlink=Nate Silver |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Candidate Quality Mattered |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/candidate-quality-mattered/ |access-date=November 10, 2022 |website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref>
Foreign policy
In June 2021, Biden took his first trip abroad as president, visiting Belgium, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. He attended a G7 summit, a NATO summit, and an EU summit, and held one-on-one talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bidens-first-trip-abroad-whirlwind-of-meetings-with-allies-rivals-2021-6 |title=Biden's first trip abroad will be a whirlwind of major meetings with key allies and top rivals |last=Haltiwanger |first=John |date=June 3, 2021 |work=Business Insider |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>
In September 2021, Biden announced AUKUS, a security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, to ensure "peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Lemire |first2=Jonathan |title=Biden announces Indo-Pacific alliance with UK, Australia |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-china-australia-united-states-1b2e597918bc1c8dd1aab26ab32c9621 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |work=Associated Press News |date=September 16, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009141945/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-china-australia-united-states-1b2e597918bc1c8dd1aab26ab32c9621 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In February 2021, the Biden administration announced that the United States was ending its support for the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen and revoked the designation of Yemen's Houthis as terrorists.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Knickmeyer |first1=Ellen |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Biden ending US support for Saudi-led offensive in Yemen |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-end-support-saudi-offenseive-yemen-b68f58493dbfc530b9fcfdb80a13098f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023211712/https://apnews.com/article/biden-end-support-saudi-offenseive-yemen-b68f58493dbfc530b9fcfdb80a13098f |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |access-date=February 5, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Knickmeyer |first1=Ellen |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Biden revokes terrorist designation for Yemen's Houthis |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-civil-wars-yemen-d17b50e3995827838a19fb8bd09e9f64%7Cpublisher=Associated Press}}</ref> In early February 2022, Biden ordered the counterterrorism raid in northern Syria that resulted in the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the second leader of the Islamic State.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> In late July, Biden approved the drone strike that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second leader of Al-Qaeda, and an integral member in the planning of the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/al-qaeda-strike-afghanistan.html |title=U.S. Drone Strike Kills Ayman al-Zawahri, Top Qaeda Leader |date=August 1, 2022 |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |last3=Barnes |first3=Julian |last4=Schmitt |first4=Eric |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=August 1, 2022 |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801215209/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/al-qaeda-strike-afghanistan.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2022 OPEC+ oil production cut caused a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia, threatening a longstanding alliance.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/us/politics/biden-saudi-arabia-oil-production-cut.html | title=Biden Vows 'Consequences' for Saudi Arabia After Oil Production Cut | newspaper=The New York Times | date=October 11, 2022 | last1=Baker | first1=Peter}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.ft.com/content/1a5cfd12-a202-4242-b0ad-bed56f377142 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/1a5cfd12-a202-4242-b0ad-bed56f377142 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=Joe Biden warns of 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after oil production cuts | newspaper=Financial Times | date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>
In August 2024, Biden negotiated and oversaw the 2024 Ankara prisoner exchange, the largest prisoner exchange since the end of the Cold War. It involved the release of 26 people, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=August 1, 2024 |title=Things to know about the largest US-Russia prisoner swap in post-Soviet history |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-prisoner-swap-354df585ad321ecdbea4c0f2c557f0aa |access-date=August 5, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |quote=The U.S. and Russia on Thursday completed their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history... |archive-date=August 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802233705/https://apnews.com/article/russia-gershkovich-whelan-prisoner-swap-354df585ad321ecdbea4c0f2c557f0aa |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2024, the Biden administration announced that it had helped broker a ceasefire agreement in the Israel–Hezbollah conflict.Template:Efn
Withdrawal from Afghanistan
American forces had begun withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2020, under the provisions of a February 2020 US-Taliban agreement that set a May 1, 2021, deadline.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Kiely |first1=Eugene |last2=Farley |first2=Robert |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ |title=Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan |work=FactCheck.org |date=August 17, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817224525/https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Taliban began an offensive on May 1.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/politics/biden-afghanistan-speech/index.html%7Ctitle=Biden admits Afghanistan's collapse 'did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated'|first1=Kevin|last1=Liptak|first2=Jeff|last2=Zeleny|first3=Kaitlan|last3=Collins|first4=Jennifer|last4=Hansler|first5=Maegan|last5=Vazquez|date=August 16, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|publisher=CNN|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830160957/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/politics/biden-afghanistan-speech/index.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Nomaan|last1=Merchant|first2=Zeke|last2=Miller|url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-evacuations-32bb6a22846f649b626a3130f8c5dffb|title=Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation|date=August 19, 2021|access-date=August 26, 2021|publisher=Associated Press|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829230019/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-evacuations-32bb6a22846f649b626a3130f8c5dffb%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> By early July, most American troops in Afghanistan had withdrawn.<ref name="images" /> Biden addressed the withdrawal in July, saying, "The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely."<ref name="images" />
On August 15, the Afghan government collapsed under the Taliban offensive, and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.<ref name="images" /><ref name="messy">{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden defends 'messy' US pullout from Afghanistan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58238497 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=BBC News |date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023163517/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58238497 |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden reacted by ordering 6,000 American troops to assist with evacuating American personnel and Afghan allies.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Prakash |first1=Nidhi |title=Joe Biden Blamed Afghan Leaders For Giving Up As The Taliban Took Control |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/biden-afghanistan-speech-taliban-take-over |access-date=August 17, 2021 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008133113/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nidhiprakash/biden-afghanistan-speech-taliban-take-over |url-status=live}}</ref> He faced bipartisan criticism for the manner of the withdrawal,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Edmondson |first1=Catie |title=Lawmakers Unite in Bipartisan Fury Over Afghanistan Withdrawal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/us/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-congress.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 1, 2022 |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816201146/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/us/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-congress.html |url-status=live}}</ref> with the evacuations described as chaotic and botched.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Melanie |last1=Zanona |first2=Lauren |last2=Fox |title=House Republicans vow to probe Biden's Afghanistan exit if they win in 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/20/politics/house-republicans-afghanistan-biden-benghazi/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822125620/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/20/politics/house-republicans-afghanistan-biden-benghazi/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Christopher |last1=Cadelago |first2=Natasha |last2=Korecki |first3=Laura |last3=Barrón-López |title=Biden scrambles to tamp down panic over Afghanistan |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/18/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-506065 |magazine=Politico |date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126220827/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/18/biden-afghanistan-withdrawal-506065 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 16, Biden addressed the "messy" situation, taking responsibility for it, and admitting that the situation "unfolded more quickly than we had anticipated".<ref name="messy" /><ref name="buck1">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |title=Biden says 'buck stops with me' and defends Afghanistan withdrawal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-afghanistan-taliban-watch-live-stream-today-2021-08-16/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=CBS News |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817054019/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-afghanistan-taliban-watch-live-stream-today-2021-08-16/ |url-status=live}}</ref> He defended his decision to withdraw, saying that Americans should not be "dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves".<ref name="buck1" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=Biden says the 'buck stops with me' — while pinning blame on Trump and many Afghans |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/16/biden-says-buck-stops-with-me-while-pinning-blame-trump-lots-afghans/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 16, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817153113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/16/biden-says-buck-stops-with-me-while-pinning-blame-trump-lots-afghans/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
On August 26, a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghans. On August 27, an American drone strike killed two ISIS-K targets, who were "planners and facilitators", according to a U.S. Army general.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Michael|last1=Collins|first2=Tom Vanden|last2=Brook|first3=Deirdre|last3=Shesgreen|title=Biden said US would 'hunt' down Kabul airport attackers. A day later, a drone strike killed two ISIS-K targets|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/28/kabul-bombing-u-s-issues-drone-strike-against-isis-k-planner/5628326001/%7Cnewspaper=USA Today|date=August 28, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2021|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830163452/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/08/28/kabul-bombing-u-s-issues-drone-strike-against-isis-k-planner/5628326001/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30. Biden called the extraction of over 120,000 Americans, Afghans, and other allies "an extraordinary success".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Freking |first2=Kevin |title=Biden defends departure from 'forever war,' praises airlift |url=https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-dd43bcc58bd17668b1cf4ae79997142b |access-date=September 5, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 1, 2021 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908160545/https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-dd43bcc58bd17668b1cf4ae79997142b |url-status=live}}</ref> He acknowledged that up to 200 Americans who wanted to leave did not, despite his August 18 pledge to keep troops in Afghanistan until all Americans who wanted to leave had left.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Gore |first1=D'Angelo |last2=Farley |first2=Robert |last3=Robertson |first3=Lori |title=How Many Americans and Allies Are Left in Afghanistan? |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2021/09/how-many-americans-and-allies-are-left-in-afghanistan/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |website=Factcheck.org |date=September 2, 2021 |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908104952/https://www.factcheck.org/2021/09/how-many-americans-and-allies-are-left-in-afghanistan/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
After the withdrawal, the U.S. continued to send aid to Afghanistan, remaining its biggest aid donor as of August 2024 and spending at least $20.7 billion post-withdrawal. U.S. funding has helped support the Taliban government and stabilize Afghanistan's economy.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=US aid is still vital to Afghanistan |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/08/28/us-aid-is-still-vital-to-afghanistan_6722732_4.html%7Cwork=Le Monde |date=August 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=US aid vetting failures may have benefited militants in Afghanistan, watchdog finds |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-aid-vetting-failures-may-have-benefited-militants-afghanistan-watchdog-finds-2024-07-17/l%7Cpublisher=Reuters |date=July 17, 2024}}</ref> On September 25, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the Biden administration for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, with ten Democrats and all Republicans voting in favor.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Groves |first1=Stephen |title=House approves GOP resolution condemning Biden and Harris over Afghanistan withdrawal |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-harris-afghanistan-house-republicans-794de9e0a7685dbf7d9f2175728f4d51 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=January 18, 2025 |date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
Russian invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, the Russian Armed Forces under President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine. After warning for several weeks that an attack was imminent, Biden responded by imposing severe sanctions on Russia and authorizing over $8 billion in weapons shipments to Ukraine.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |authorlink1=Michael D. Shear |last2=Kanno-Youngs |first2=Zolan |last3=Rogers |first3=Katie |date=February 28, 2022 |title=10 Consequential Days: How Biden Navigated War, Covid and the Supreme Court |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/us/politics/biden-ukraine-covid-supreme-court.html |access-date=March 17, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321104514/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/us/politics/biden-ukraine-covid-supreme-court.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Parker |first1=Ashley |last2=Harris |first2=Shane |last3=Birnbaum |first3=Michael |last4=Hudson |first4=John |date=February 25, 2022 |title=13 days: Inside Biden's last-ditch attempts to stop Putin in Ukraine |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/inside-biden-putin-ukraine/ |access-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226045105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/25/inside-biden-putin-ukraine/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Mason |first1=Jeff |last2=Bose |first2=Nandita |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Biden calls Putin a 'war criminal,' sending more weapons to Ukraine |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-new-security-assistance-ukraine-after-signing-massive-spending-2022-03-16/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080135/https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-new-security-assistance-ukraine-after-signing-massive-spending-2022-03-16/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 29, he asked Congress for $33 billion for Ukraine,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=War in Ukraine: U.S. dramatically upgrades its aid package to Kyiv |first=Piotr |last=Smolar |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/29/war-in-ukraine-u-s-dramatically-upgrades-its-aid-package-to-kyiv_5981990_4.html |newspaper=Le Monde |date=April 29, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510001810/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/04/29/war-in-ukraine-u-s-dramatically-upgrades-its-aid-package-to-kyiv_5981990_4.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=April 29, 2022 |title=Biden seeks $33B for Ukraine, signaling long-term commitment |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-europe-economy-5656f58ae48cb3cf37da0d0c431a15b8 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |first1=Alan |last1=Fram |first2=Zeke |last2=Miller |first3=Aamer |last3=Madhani}}</ref> but lawmakers later increased it to about $40 billion.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=House approves $40B in Ukraine aid, beefing up Biden request |first=Alan |last=Fram |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2 |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 11, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511000720/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-biden-europe-0ac5c758d32dbea64c437b50e829bbb2 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Sonmez |first1=Felicia |last2=Jeong |first2=Andrew |date=May 10, 2022 |title=House approves nearly $40 billion in aid to Ukraine as it fights off Russian aggression |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/10/house-poised-approve-additional-40-billion-aid-ukraine/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Zengerle |first=Patricia |date=May 19, 2022 |title=After delay, U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approves $40 billion in Ukraine aid |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/after-delay-congress-sends-40-billion-ukraine-aid-package-biden-2022-05-19/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Biden blamed Putin for the emerging energy and food crises.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden blames 'Putin's invasion of Ukraine' for rising gas, food prices globally |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/biden-blames-putin-s-invasion-of-ukraine-for-rising-gas-food-prices-globally-101648873914167.html |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=April 2, 2022 |first=Shubhangi |last=Gupta|access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516164119/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/biden-blames-putin-s-invasion-of-ukraine-for-rising-gas-food-prices-globally-101648873914167.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Ukraine war: Hungry Africans are victims of the conflict, Macky Sall tells Vladimir Putin |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61685383 |publisher=BBC News |date=June 3, 2022 |access-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611165237/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-61685383 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Nichols |first2=Michelle |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Biden accuses Putin of irresponsible nuclear threats, violating U.N. charter |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-29-bln-food-security-funding-during-un-speech-white-house-2022-09-21/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511024035/https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-announce-29-bln-food-security-funding-during-un-speech-white-house-2022-09-21/ |archive-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref>
In 2022, Congress approved about $113 billion in aid to Ukraine.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=$113 billion: Where the US investment in Ukraine aid has gone |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/21/politics/war-funding-ukraine-what-matters/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=September 21, 2023 |first=Zachary B. |last=Wolf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505224731/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/21/politics/war-funding-ukraine-what-matters/index.html |url-status=live |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024 }}</ref> In October 2023, the Biden administration requested an additional $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine for the year ahead,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=The White House is asking for almost $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the border |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1206301577/biden-ukraine-israel-congress-funding-request |publisher=NPR |date=October 26, 2023 |first=Deepa |last=Shivaram |access-date=August 13, 2024 }}</ref> but delays in the passage of further aid by the House of Representatives inhibited progress, with the additional $61 billion in aid to Ukraine added in April 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Zengerle |first1=Patricia |last2=Cowan |first2=Richard |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/long-awaited-aid-ukraine-israel-taiwan-poised-pass-us-congress-2024-04-23/ |title=US Congress passes Ukraine aid after months of delay |publisher=Reuters |date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Williams |first1=Michael |last2=Saenz |first2=Arlette |last3=Liptak |first3=Kevin |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/politics/biden-signs-foreign-aid-bill/index.html |title=Biden signs foreign aid bill providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine |publisher=CNN |date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Myre |first=Greg |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246839045/biden-signs-95-billion-military-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan |title=Biden signs $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan |publisher=NPR |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> Actually delivered aid often differed from announced levels and was also often delayed. The Government Accountability Office and Pentagon Inspector General found that the Biden administration seemed unaware of the pace of weapons deliveries.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigations/biden-administration-beset-by-doubts-slowed-ukraine-weapons-shipments-until-2025-02-03/%7Ctitle=Biden administration slowed Ukraine arms shipments until his term was nearly done |publisher=Reuters|date=February 3, 2025|access-date=March 1, 2025}}</ref>
Throughout the conflict, Biden consistently refused Ukrainian requests to allow them to utilize weapons against Russian military targets inside Russia. An exception was granted in May 2024 for targets in the vicinity of Kharkiv for "counter-fire" purposes.Template:Efn Biden also blocked access for some weapons systems altogether, typically citing fears of escalation, only to permit deliveries for some weapons later on.Template:Efn
China affairs
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
The Solomon Islands-China security pact caused alarm in late 2022, as China could build military bases across the South Pacific. Biden sought to strengthen ties with Australia and New Zealand in the wake of the deal.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Ralph |last=Jennings |title=US Beefs Up South Pacific Aid, Diplomacy as China Spreads Its Influence |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-beefs-up-south-pacific-aid-diplomacy-as-china-spreads-its-influence-/6658148.html |date=July 13, 2022 |access-date=July 18, 2022 |publisher=Voice of America}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=May 24, 2022 |title=In meeting with Biden, Australia's Albanese recalls colourful first trip to U.S. |publisher=Reuters |first=Kirsty |last=Needham |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/meeting-with-biden-australias-albanese-recalls-colourful-first-trip-us-2022-05-24/ |access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=What the China-Solomon Islands Pact Means for the U.S. and South Pacific |url=https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/china-solomon-islands-security-pact-us-south-pacific |date=May 4, 2022 |first=Zongyuan Zoe |last=Liu |access-date=July 18, 2022 |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations}}</ref> In a September 2022 interview with 60 Minutes, Biden said that U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of "an unprecedented attack" by the Chinese,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=John |first1=Ruwitch |title=Biden, again, says U.S. would help Taiwan if China attacks |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1123759127/biden-again-says-u-s-would-help-taiwan-if-china-attacks |publisher=NPR |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> which is in contrast to the long-standing U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" toward China and Taiwan.<ref name="Kine">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=A bristling China says Biden remarks on Taiwan 'severely violate' U.S. policy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-biden-taiwan-remarks-angry-reaction/ |agency=CBS News |date=September 19, 2022 |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden's most hawkish comments on Taiwan yet |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/19/biden-taiwan-china-defense/ |date=September 19, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 28, 2023 |first=Aaron |last=Blake}}</ref> The September comments came after three previous comments by Biden that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.<ref name="theories">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Taylor |first1=Adam |title=Three theories on Biden's repeated Taiwan gaffes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/24/taiwan-biden-gaffe/ |date=May 24, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> Amid increasing tension with China, Biden's administration has repeatedly walked back his statements and asserted that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed.<ref name=theories/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Kine/> In late 2022, Biden issued several executive orders and federal rules designed to slow Chinese technological growth, and maintain U.S. leadership over computing, biotech, and clean energy.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On February 4, 2023, Biden ordered the United States Air Force to shoot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Baldor |first1=Lolita C. |last2=Copp |first2=Tara |title=China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53 |publisher=Associated Press |date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209010911/https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-antony-blinken-china-b1b03193b7abeb7bbeca169bbc7c2c53 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The Chinese government denied that the balloon was a surveillance device, instead claiming it was a civilian airship that had blown off course.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Lee |first=Matthew |date=February 4, 2023 |title=Chinese balloon soars across US; Blinken scraps Beijing trip |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6 |url-status=live |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205001417/https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-china-314302278a5f05bdc2df146ed5b35ec6 |archive-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Swire |first=Sonnet |date=February 4, 2023 |title=What to know about the suspected Chinese spy balloon |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/04/politics/chinese-spy-balloon-us-latest/index.html |access-date=May 16, 2024 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his planned visit to China as the incident further damaged U.S.-China relations.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Pamuk |first1=Humeyra |last2=Ali |first2=Idrees |last3=Martina |first3=Michael |last4=Ali |first4=Idrees |date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=September 30, 2023 |title=Blinken postpones China trip over 'unacceptable' Chinese spy balloon |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-expresses-regret-that-civilian-airship-strays-over-us-2023-02-03/}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Cadell |first1=Cate |last2=Hudson |first2=John |last3=Abutaleb |first3=Yasmeen |title=Blinken postpones China trip as suspected spy balloon detected over U.S. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/03/blinken-postpones-china-trip-suspected-spy-balloon-detected-over-us/ |date=February 3, 2023 |url-access=limited |access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |last2=Liptak |first2=Kevin |last3=Herb |first3=Jeremy |last4=Atwood |first4=Kylie |last5=Sciutto |first5=Kylie |last6=Liebermann |first6=Oren |date=February 3, 2023 |title=Blinken postpones trip to Beijing after Chinese spy balloon spotted over US, officials say |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/politics/china-us-balloon-intl/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204022758/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/03/politics/china-us-balloon-intl/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2023}}</ref> In May 2024, the Biden administration doubled tariffs on solar cells imported from China and more than tripled tariffs on lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries imported from China.<ref name="erwgs">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Boak |first1=Josh |last2=Hussein |first2=Fatima |last3=Wiseman |first3=Paul |last4=Tang |first4=Didi |date=May 14, 2024 |title=Biden hikes tariffs on Chinese EVs, solar cells, steel, aluminum — and snipes at Trump |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-china-tariffs-electric-vehicles-evs-solar-2024ba735c47e04a50898a88425c5e2c |access-date=May 16, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> It also raised tariffs on imports of Chinese steel, aluminum, and medical materials.<ref name="erwgs"/>
In April 2024, Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would ban social networking services if they are determined by the president and relevant provisions to be a "foreign adversary controlled application". The act explicitly applies to ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries, which are based in China. It ceases to be applicable if the application is divested and no longer considered to be controlled by a foreign adversary of the United States. Biden had signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act in December 2022, prohibiting the use of TikTok on devices owned by the federal government.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=January 19, 2025 |title=TikTok is down in the US |url=https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/18/24346961/tiktok-shut-down-banned-in-the-us |access-date=January 19, 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Megan |last1=Lebowitz |first2=Ben |last2=Goggin |first3=Kat |last3=Tenbarge |date=January 19, 2025 |title=TikTok makes app unavailable for U.S. users ahead of ban |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tiktok-makes-app-unavailable-us-users-ahead-ban-rcna188294 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |publisher=NBC News }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Yvette |last1=Tan |first2=Fan |last2=Wang |title=RedNote: Americans and Chinese share jokes on 'alternative TikTok' as US ban looms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983lr756xwo |date=January 17, 2025 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
Gaza war
.jpg){kind=link}
In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that devolved into an intensified conflict, jeopardizing the administration's push to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Wong |first1=Edward |last2=Mazzetti |first2=Mark |last3=Nereim |first3=Vivian |date=October 9, 2023 |title=U.S. Continues Push for Saudi-Israel Ties Even as War With Hamas Begins |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/us/politics/saudi-arabia-israel-palestinians-hamas.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Biden stated his unequivocal support for Israel and condemned the attack by Hamas, but discouraged Israel from initiating a ground invasion of Gaza.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Baker |first=Peter |date=October 10, 2023 |title=In Unforgiving Terms, Biden Condemns 'Evil' and 'Abhorrent' Attack on Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012001950/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |access-date=October 12, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="WarWoodward"/> Upon Israel's retaliation against Hamas, Biden deployed aircraft carriers in the region to deter others from joining the war,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=October 18, 2023 |title=What Biden did and didn't achieve during his trip to Israel |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/18/politics/middle-east-conflict-biden-israel/index.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> and called for an additional $14 billion in military aid to Israel.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Details of Biden's $105 Billion Funding Request for Israel and Ukraine |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/us/politics/bidens-funds-israel-ukraine.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He later began pressuring Israel to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |authorlink1=Michael D. Shear |last2=Sanger |first2=David E. |last3=Wong |first3=Edward |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Biden's Support for Israel Now Comes With Words of Caution |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/us/politics/biden-israel.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Biden rejected calls for a ceasefire but said he supported "humanitarian pauses" to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Bendery |first1=Jennifer |title=Joe Biden On The Chances Of A Gaza Cease-Fire: 'None. No Possibility.' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-gaza-cease-fire-no-possibility_n_654d0b36e4b088d9a74da287 |work=The Huffington Post |date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> He asked Israel to pause its invasion of Gaza for at least three days to allow for hostage negotiations; Israel agreed to daily four-hour pauses.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=November 9, 2023 |title=Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee, White House says |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-humanitarian-pauses-b8fc613ffd8b9351c0dc37b90b6e10dd |access-date=November 13, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |first1=Aamer |last1=Madhani |first2=Zeke |last2=Miller |first3=Ellen |last3=Knickmeyer}}</ref> He also directed the U.S. military to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=March 7, 2024 |title=Biden Ordering US Military to Build Port in Gaza to Facilitate Aid |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-orders-us-military-to-build-port-in-gaza-to-facilitate-aid/7518026.html |access-date=April 29, 2024 |publisher=Voice of America |first=Patsy |last=Widakuswara}}</ref> Biden has said he is a Zionist.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Spetalnick |first1=Matt |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff |last3=Holland |first3=Steve |last4=Zengerle |first4=Patricia |date=October 23, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |title='I am a Zionist': How Joe Biden's lifelong bond with Israel shapes war policy |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/i-am-zionist-how-joe-bidens-lifelong-bond-with-israel-shapes-war-policy-2023-10-21/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=December 12, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |title='I am a Zionist,' says Biden at Hanukkah event, promises continued military assistance to Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/biden-were-there-no-israel-there-wouldnt-be-a-jew-in-the-world-who-is-safe/ |newspaper=The Times of Israel}}</ref> He has faced criticism for his unwavering support for Israel. Officials have urged him to take a harder stance against Israel, criticizing his administration's leniency and support despite the Israeli government's contentious offensive, which has led to significant civilian casualties and humanitarian crises.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=April 10, 2024 |title=Biden pressure on Israel not enough, say dissenting US officials |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68773400 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |first=Tom |last=Bateman |publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Biden: What's happening in Gaza 'is not genocide' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/20/biden-gaza-not-genocide-israel-00159020 |newspaper=Politico |first1=Elena |last1=Schneider |first2=Jennifer |last2=Haberkorn |first3=Eli |last3=Stokols |date=May 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Dozens of former U.S. officials urge Biden to take harder line with Israel |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/dozens-former-us-officials-urge-biden-take-harder-line-with-israel-2024-03-20/ |publisher=Reuters |date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
Following the killing of Palestinian civilians receiving food aid on February 29, 2024, Biden said the current level of aid flowing into Gaza was insufficient.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Ewing |first=Giselle Ruhiyyih |date=March 2, 2024 |title=Gaza airdrop has begun, Biden says, but more needed |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/02/gaza-aid-airdrop-biden-00144563 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=Politico}}</ref> On March 3, the U.S. military began airdropping food aid into Gaza.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=March 2, 2024 |title=US military aircraft airdrop thousands of meals into Gaza in emergency humanitarian aid operation |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-airdrop-humanitarian-assistance-f8bc071193f89906abf21478bc70a084 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |first1=Tara |last1=Copp |first2=Seung |last2=Min Kim}}</ref> Several experts called the U.S. airdrops performative and said they would do little to alleviate the famine in Gaza.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Airdropping aid is inefficient — so why is the U.S. doing it in Gaza anyway? |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236019060/gaza-israel-airdrop-aid-humanitarian-united-states |publisher=NPR |date=March 6, 2024 |first1=Ari |last1=Shapiro |first2=Linah |last2=Mohammad |first3=Elena |last3=Burnett}}</ref>
Biden continued to support Israel during the course of the war despite significant domestic opposition to American involvement in it and subsequent widespread protests. A March 2024 Gallup poll found that a strong majority of Americans disapproved of Israeli conduct during the war.<ref name="Gallup Inc.">{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Jones |first=Jeffrey |date=March 27, 2024 |title=Majority in U.S. Now Disapprove of Israeli Action in Gaza |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/642695/majority-disapprove-israeli-action-gaza.aspx |access-date=April 3, 2024 |publisher=Gallup Inc.}}</ref> Beginning in April 2024, widespread Gaza war protests emerged on university campuses, denouncing Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Astor |first=Maggie |date=April 30, 2024 |title=College Democrats Back Protests and Criticize Biden's Israel Policy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/us/politics/biden-israel-college-protest.html |access-date=May 1, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On May 31, 2024, Biden announced his support for an Israeli ceasefire proposal, saying that Hamas was "no longer capable" of another large-scale attack.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web |last1=Berg |first1=Matt |last2=Ward |first2=Alexander | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/31/hamas-no-longer-poses-major-threat-to-israel-biden-says-00161053 | title=Hamas no longer poses major threat to Israel, Biden says | website=Politico | date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web |last=Khalid |first=Asma |title=President Biden unveils and endorses details of a new Israeli cease-fire proposal |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/05/31/g-s1-2320/biden-israel-hamas-ceasefire-proposal |publisher=NPR |date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web |last=Singh |first=Kanishka |title=What's in the new Israel ceasefire proposal Biden announced? |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/whats-new-israel-ceasefire-proposal-biden-announced-2024-05-31/ |publisher=Reuters |date=May 31, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> The proposal, which was intended to establish a permanent ceasefire, bring about the release of all hostages, and lead to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, was supported by Hamas officials after mediation by Egypt and Qatar.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web |last=Magid |first=Jacob |title='Time for this war to end': Biden tells Hamas to accept Israel's hostage-ceasefire offer |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/time-for-this-war-to-end-biden-tells-hamas-to-accept-israels-hostage-ceasefire-offer/ |website=The Times of Israel |date=June 1, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web |last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Mackenzie |first2=James |title=Biden details Gaza truce proposal, Hamas responds positively |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/biden-unveils-new-gaza-truce-proposal-hamas-responds-positively-2024-05-31/ |publisher=Reuters |date=June 1, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> The Netanyahu administration responded that Israel's goals regarding "the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities" had not changed and that conditions would need to be met before it would agree to a ceasefire.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Brown |first1=Benjamin |last2=Tanno |first2=Sophie | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/01/europe/netenyahu-ceasefire-hamas-contradiction-biden-intl/index.html | title=Netanyahu says no Gaza ceasefire until Israel's war aims are achieved, raising questions over Biden peace proposal | publisher=CNN | date=June 1, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Berman |first=Lazar | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israeli-official-says-under-ceasefire-proposal-israel-can-renew-fighting-at-any-time-should-hamas-violate-terms/ | title=Israeli official to ToI: Under proposal, Israel can achieve all war goals before permanent ceasefire takes effect | newspaper=The Times of Israel | date=June 1, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Megerian |first2=Chris |last3=Superville |first3=Darlene | url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-58169a607d4a7c4d7fc34f43160076b8/ | title=Biden details a 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down the Israel-Hamas war | publisher=Associated Press | date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref> In the first year of the war, it was estimated that the Biden administration had sent Israel at least $17.9 billion in military aid, a record.<ref name="knickmeyer">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Knickmeyer |first1=Ellen |title=US spends a record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since last Oct. 7 |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-us-military-spending-8e6e5033f7a1334bf6e35f86e7040e14 |access-date=November 10, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |date=October 7, 2024}}</ref> In about the same period, it sent Palestinians $1.2 billion in humanitarian aid.<ref name="ching-voa">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Ching |first1=Nike |title=Blinken announces $135M in additional US aid for Palestinians |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/blinken-announces-135-million-in-additional-us-aid-for-palestinians/7837681.html |access-date=December 10, 2024 |agency=Voice of America |date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> Biden was reported by journalist Bob Woodward to have clashed throughout the war with Netanyahu regarding his war strategy and lack of a post-war plan for Gaza.<ref name="WarWoodward">{{#invoke:cite|book|last=Woodward |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Woodward |title=War |title-link=War (Woodward book) |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-6680-5227-3 |location=New York |chapter=Sixty-six}}</ref> In the last week of Biden's presidency, Qatari officials announced that Hamas had accepted the ceasefire deal; Biden hailed the deal.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/15/statement-from-president-joe-biden-14/%7Ctitle=Statement From President Biden: January 15, 2025|access-date=January 15, 2025|publisher=The White House|date=January 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/15/israel-hamas-ceasefire-hostage-deal-agreed-to-in-principle.html%7Ctitle=Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal |access-date=January 15, 2025 |agency=CNBC |date=January 15, 2025}}</ref>
NATO enlargement
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Biden expressed support for expanding NATO to cover Sweden and Finland.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Holland |first1=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/biden-discuss-nato-bid-with-swedens-kristersson-2023-07-05/ | title=Biden shows support for Sweden's NATO bid in talks with PM | publisher=Reuters | date=July 5, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Holland |first1=Steve |last2=Mason |first2=Jeff | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-meet-leaders-finland-sweden-nato-expansion-2022-05-19/ | title=Biden cheers Finland, Sweden NATO plans as Turkey balks | publisher=Reuters | date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> On August 9, 2022, he signed the instruments of ratification stipulating U.S. support for the two countries' entry into NATO.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Mason |first1=Jeff |last2=Zengerle |first2=Patricia | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-sign-documents-backing-sweden-finland-nato-2022-08-09/ | title=Biden signs documents of U.S. support for Sweden, Finland to join NATO | publisher=Reuters | date=August 9, 2022 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=August 9, 2022 |title=Biden formalizes US support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-biden-finland-6a04422190bdd7e75440f7e176a88109 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |publisher=Associated Press |first=Zeke |last=Miller}}</ref> Finnish ascension occurred on April 4, 2023, but opposition by Turkey and Hungary to Swedish entry led to a stalemate.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=John |first=Tara |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/04/europe/finland-joins-nato-intl/index.html | title=Finland joins NATO, doubling military alliance's border with Russia in a blow for Putin | publisher=CNN | date=April 4, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> Biden led diplomatic talks resulting in formal Swedish ascension into NATO on March 7, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Pettypiece |first1=Shannon |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-meets-heads-finland-sweden-show-support-nato-membership-rcna29621 | title=Biden meets with heads of Finland, Sweden in show of support for NATO membership | publisher=NBC News | date=May 19, 2022 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Min Kim |first1=Seung |last2=Megerian |first2=Chris |last3=Tanner |first3=Jari | url=https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-white-house-nato-finland-716380d2299ccbfcfd73745a8327119a | title=Biden proclaims NATO alliance 'more united than ever' in contrast to predecessor Trump | publisher=Associated Press | date=July 12, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> He has also expressed openness to Ukrainian entry into NATO following the end of the conflict,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Martinez |first1=A |last2=Khalid |first2=Asma | url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/10/1186712386/biden-is-in-europe-to-focus-on-u-s-alliances-and-nato-expansion | title=Biden is in Europe to focus on U.S. alliances and NATO expansion | publisher=NPR | date=July 10, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> supporting an expedited timetable in its ascension and the removal of steps such as the Membership Action Plan typically required for NATO entry.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Klein |first=Betsy | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/12/politics/joe-biden-nato-summit-day-2/index.html | title=Assurances that Ukraine's future is in NATO and new security guarantees calm worries at final day of summit | publisher=CNN | date=July 12, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Hansler |first2=Jennifer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/14/politics/ukraine-nato-joe-biden/index.html | title=Biden holding firm on Ukraine joining NATO | publisher=CNN | date=June 14, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref>
Investigations
Retention of classified documents
In November 2022, Biden's attorneys found classified documents dating from his vice presidency in a "locked closet" at the Penn Biden Center.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last5=Collins |first1=Phil |last1=Mattingly |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Maegan |last3=Vazquez |first4=Kevin |last4=Liptak |first5=Kaitlan |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Biden's legal team found another batch of classified documents in search of second location |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/politics/biden-classified-documents/index.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="nytbatch1">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Savage |first2=Charlie |last3=Thrush |first3=Glenn |last4=Goldman |first4=Adam |date=January 10, 2023 |title=Biden Lawyers Found Classified Material at His Former Office |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/09/us/politics/biden-classified-documents.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> According to the White House, the documents were reported to the U.S. National Archives, which recovered them the next day.<ref name="nytbatch1" /> On November 14, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed John R. Lausch Jr. to conduct an investigation.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents-timeline.html%7Ctitle=Timeline of the Biden Documents Case: What We Know So Far|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=January 12, 2023|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 14, 2023|archive-date=January 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114124700/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents-timeline.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Chowdhury |first1=Maureen |last2=Hammond |first2=Elise |last3=Meyer |first3=Matt |last4=Sangal |first4=Aditi |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Garland lays out timeline of investigation into Biden classified documents so far |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/garland-attorney-general-statement-01-12-23/h_d0728a48029a6407e468b05806963497 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113030157/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/garland-attorney-general-statement-01-12-23/h_d0728a48029a6407e468b05806963497 |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> On December 20, a second batch of classified documents was discovered in the garage of Biden's Wilmington residence.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Second Set of Classified Documents Were Found at Biden's Wilmington Home, White House Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/us/politics/biden-documents.html |access-date=January 12, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
On January 12, Garland appointed Robert K. Hur as special counsel to investigate "possible unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or other records".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Johnson |first=Carrie |date=January 12, 2023 |title=A special counsel will probe government documents at Biden's home and private office |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148425062/special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-robert-hur |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref> On January 20, after a 13-hour consensual search by FBI investigators, six more items with classified markings were recovered from Biden's Wilmington residence.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Rogers |first2=Katie |date=January 22, 2023 |title=Investigators Seize More Classified Documents From Biden's Home |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/21/us/politics/biden-documents.html |access-date=January 22, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> FBI agents searched Biden's home in Rehoboth Beach on February 1 and collected papers from his time as vice president, but did not find any classified information.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/01/fbi-searching-biden-home-in-rehoboth-delaware.html%7Ctitle=FBI found no classified documents in search of Biden home in Rehoboth, lawyer says|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=February 1, 2023|publisher=CNBC|access-date=February 16, 2023}}</ref> On February 8, 2024, Hur announced that no charges would be brought against Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Rebecca |last1=Beitsch |first2=Brett |last2=Samuels |date=February 8, 2024 |title=Special counsel finds Biden 'willfully' retained classified documents, no charges filed |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4456524-special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-probe-no-charges/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=February 9, 2024 |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208201505/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4456524-special-counsel-biden-classified-documents-probe-no-charges/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
Business activities
Template:Main Template:Further
On January 11, 2023, the House of Representatives launched an investigative committee into the foreign business activities of Biden's son, Hunter, and brother, James.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Sforza |first1=Lauren |title=New GOP Oversight chair launches probes into Biden finances, Hunter Biden laptop story |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3808729-new-gop-oversight-chair-asks-treasury-for-biden-family-financial-information/ |work=The Hill |date=January 11, 2023 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-date=January 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112174111/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3808729-new-gop-oversight-chair-asks-treasury-for-biden-family-financial-information/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The committee's chair, Representative James Comer, simultaneously investigated alleged corruption related to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Wolf |first1=Zachary B. |title=Here's what to know about GOP claims of a Biden scandal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/09/politics/hunter-biden-republicans-what-matters/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=June 9, 2023}}</ref>
On September 12, House speaker Kevin McCarthy initiated a formal impeachment inquiry against Biden, saying that the House investigations "paint a picture of corruption" by Biden and his family.Template:Efn Congressional investigations, including by the House Oversight committee, have discovered no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden as of December 2023.Template:Efn On December 13, 2023, the House of Representatives voted 221–212 to formalize an impeachment inquiry into Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Brooks |first1=Emily |title=Biden impeachment inquiry risks backfiring on House GOP |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4362989-biden-impeachment-inquiry-backfiring-on-house-gop/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=December 17, 2023 |access-date=December 17, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Diver |first1=Tony |last2=Staff |first2=Our Foreign |date=December 13, 2023 |title=US House votes to open Biden impeachment inquiry |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/13/hunter-biden-us-capitol-statement/ |access-date=December 15, 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Rebecca Beitsch |first=Emily Brooks |date=December 13, 2023 |title=House formally approves Biden impeachment inquiry |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4358911-biden-impeachment-inquiry-house-gop/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>
In February 2024, Alexander Smirnov, a former intelligence informant who was prominent in the bribery allegations against Biden, was charged with making false statements.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Delaney |first=Arthur |date=February 15, 2024 |title=Justice Department Charges FBI Informant With Falsely Alleging Joe Biden Paid Bribes |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alexander-smirnov-joe-biden-bribe_n_65ce83d9e4b043f1c0aa7d26 |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=HuffPost |archive-date=February 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215224018/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alexander-smirnov-joe-biden-bribe_n_65ce83d9e4b043f1c0aa7d26 |url-status=live }}</ref> Smirnov admitted he had publicized a false story given to him by Russian intelligence officials with the goal of damaging Biden's reelection campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Rabinowitz |first1=Hannah |date=February 20, 2024 |title=Indicted ex-FBI informant told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian intelligence officials |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/biden-former-fbi-informant-russian-intelligence/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=February 21, 2024 |archive-date=February 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221020240/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/biden-former-fbi-informant-russian-intelligence/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Informant charged with lies about Bidens also claimed Russian contacts, feds say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/20/hunter-biden-smirnov-lying-indictment-lowell/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 20, 2024 |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302220625/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/20/hunter-biden-smirnov-lying-indictment-lowell/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |title=Republicans make last-ditch request for Biden to testify as impeachment inquiry winds down |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-impeachment-hunter-biden-comer-f09ba1ae3b7bda703a5a84530f56d70f |publisher=Associated Press |date=March 20, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513055832/https://apnews.com/article/biden-impeachment-hunter-biden-comer-f09ba1ae3b7bda703a5a84530f56d70f |url-status=live }}</ref>
Age and health concerns
As of 2025, Biden was the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. His cognitive health was perceived to have declined by Republicans and some media figures,<ref>
- {{#invoke:cite|news|last=Klein |first=Betsy |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Biden's birthday prompts debate about age and wisdom of America's oldest president |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/20/politics/joe-biden-birthday-81/index.html |access-date=March 30, 2024 |publisher=CNN}}
- {{#invoke:cite|news|last=Baker |first=Peter |date=November 19, 2023 |title=For an Aging President, a Birthday With a Bite |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/19/us/politics/biden-birthday-age.html |access-date=March 30, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name = "cbsjuly1age"/> and privately by some Democrats. Members of Biden's family and White House staffers insulated Biden from scrutiny of his advanced aging and decline in acuity.<ref>
- {{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 8, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=How Biden's Inner Circle Worked to Keep Signs of Aging Under Wraps |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/joe-biden-age-public-election-campaign-343a47bf |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}
- {{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 5, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Biden's aging is seen as accelerating; lapses described as more common |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/05/biden-aging-recent-months/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
- {{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Biden's Lapses Are Said to Be Increasingly Common and Worrisome |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/02/us/politics/biden-lapses.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}
- {{#invoke:cite|news|date=July 30, 2024 |access-date=March 1, 2025 |title=Top aides shielded Biden from staff, but couldn't hide the debate |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/06/30/top-aides-shielded-biden-white-house-debate |work=Axios}}</ref><ref name = "wsjagedec">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=December 19, 2024 |access-date=December 29, 2024 |title=How the White House Functioned With a Diminished Biden in Charge |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/biden-white-house-age-function-diminished-3906a839 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 17, 2025 |title=How Biden's Inner Circle Protected a Faltering President |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/us/politics/biden-age.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
The media widely covered public concern about Biden's mental acuity after a weak performance in a June 2024 presidential debate,<ref name = "cbsjuly1age">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Salvanto |first1=Anthony |last2=Backus |first2=Fred |last3=Pinto |first3=Jennifer De |last4=Khanna |first4=Kabir |date=July 1, 2024 |title=Increasing numbers of voters don't think Biden should be running after debate with Trump — CBS News poll |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-debate-should-biden-be-running-mental-abilities/ |access-date=August 14, 2024}}</ref> but gave it limited coverage beforehand, in part due to harsh pushback from White House officials.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden initially deemed himself fit to serve two terms as president,<ref>
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news
- Template:Cite news</ref> but after the 2024 election said that he may have been too old to serve a second term.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
As part of the investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur said that Biden did not remember when he was vice president ("if it was 2013—when did I stop being vice president?") or when his son Beau died.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hur wrote that his memory "appeared to have significant limitations".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On July 21, 2022, Biden tested positive for COVID-19 with reportedly mild symptoms.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="AP News">Template:Cite news</ref> According to the White House, he was treated with Paxlovid.<ref name="AP News" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He worked in isolation in the White House for five days<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and returned to isolation when he tested positive again on July 30.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On July 17, 2024, Biden again tested positive for COVID-19.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, Biden was asked whether any other Democrats could beat Donald Trump. His response was "Probably 50 of them".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2024 presidential campaign
Template:Main Template:Further
Ending months of speculation,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> on April 25, 2023, Biden confirmed he would run for reelection as president in the 2024 election, with Harris again as his running mate.<ref name="Associated Press">Template:Cite news</ref> On the day of his announcement, a Gallup poll found that Biden's approval rating was 37 percent, with most of those surveyed saying the economy was their biggest concern.<ref name="pollrui">Template:Cite web</ref> During his campaign, Biden promoted higher economic growth and recovery.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/eyes-2024-bidenomics-back-campaign-trail-rcna95285 |title=Eyes on 2024: Bidenomics back on the campaign trail |last1=Marquez |first1=Alexandra |last2=Bowman |first2=Bridget |last3=Kamisar |first3=Ben |publisher=NBC News |date=July 20, 2023 |accessdate=July 26, 2023}}</ref> He frequently stated his intention to "finish the job" as a political rallying cry.<ref name="Associated Press" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
U.S. Representative Dean Phillips ran against Biden in the 2024 Democratic presidential primaries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Phillips campaigned as a younger alternative to Biden,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> who would be a stronger opponent to Trump in the general election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden was not on the ballot in the January 23, New Hampshire primary, but won it in a write-in campaign with 63.8% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had wanted South Carolina to be the first primary, and won that state on February 3 with 96.2% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden received 89.3% of the vote in Nevada and 81.1% of the vote in Michigan. On March 5 ("Super Tuesday"), he won 15 of 16 primaries, netting 80% or more of the vote in 13.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Biden lost the American Samoa contest to venture capitalist Jason Palmer, becoming the first incumbent president to lose a contest while appearing on the ballot since Jimmy Carter in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 6, Phillips suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 12, Biden reached more than the 1,968 delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, becoming the presumptive nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Schneider|first=Elena|title=Biden officially clinches Democratic nomination for president|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/12/biden-cllinches-democratic-presidential-nomination-00146648 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |newspaper=Politico|date=March 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The first presidential debate was held on June 27, 2024, between Biden and Trump. Biden's performance was widely criticized, with commentators saying he frequently lost his train of thought and gave meandering answers.<ref name="reuters-biden-debate">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="apjune27">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="PoliticoJune28Dems">Template:Cite news</ref> Several newspaper columnists declared Trump the winner,Template:Efn and polling indicated the majority of viewers believed Trump won.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the debate raised questions about his health and age, Biden faced calls to withdraw from the race, including from fellow Democrats<ref name="nbc-biden-step-down">Template:Cite news</ref> and the editorial boards of several major news outlets.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
.jpg){kind=link}
Biden initially insisted that he would remain a candidate,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but on July 21, he withdrew his candidacy, writing that this was "in the best interest of my party and the country".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He endorsed Harris as his successor.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On August 6, 2024, Harris was confirmed as the Democratic presidential nominee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was the first time an eligible incumbent had declined to run for reelection since 1968.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the general election, Trump defeated Harris. The Senate went Republican for the first time since 2018. In a nationally televised speech after the election, Biden congratulated Trump and promised a "peaceful and orderly" transition of power.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a January 2025 interview, Biden claimed he could have defeated Trump had he not been persuaded to withdraw from the election, despite lagging behind Trump in polling.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A YouGov poll conducted on November 6–7, 2024, found that if Biden had been the Democratic nominee, Trump would have won the popular vote by 49% to 42%. Trump won the popular vote over Harris by 49.8% to 48.3%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Post-presidency (2025–present)
Biden's term ended on January 20, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the end of his presidency, Biden designated former senior advisors Anthony Bernal and Annie Tomasini to raise funds for the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He later signed with talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which previously represented him from 2017 to 2020.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On February 7, President Trump revoked Biden's security clearance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Former presidents have traditionally been granted access to intelligence briefings, though such access is at the sitting president's discretion. In 2021, Biden had revoked Trump's security clearance for his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol attack.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On April 15, Biden made his first major public appearance since leaving office, delivering remarks at an Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference in Chicago.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his address, he criticized the Trump administration's handling of the Social Security Administration.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 7, Biden appeared on The View to defend his presidential legacy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On April 26, Biden and his wife attended the state funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican City.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On September 6, Biden announced that his proposed presidential center would be in Delaware and that he and his foundation had approved a 13-person governance board.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Health
On May 18, 2025, Biden's office announced that he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer with bone metastasis during a routine physical examination.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On May 30, Biden confirmed that he had begun treatment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On September 4, Biden's spokesperson confirmed that he had recently undergone Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer lesions from his forehead. The procedure followed a 2023 removal of a basal-cell carcinoma from his chest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On October 11, Biden's spokesperson confirmed that he was undergoing radiation and hormone therapies for his prostate cancer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On October 20, Biden completed a course of radiation therapy at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania; it is uncertain whether he will need further treatment.<ref name=bidenhealth>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Political positions
Template:Centrism US As a senator, Biden was regarded as a moderate Democrat.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=John |last=Kruzel |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2019/may/06/joe-biden/joe-biden-claims-he-was-staunch-liberal-senate-he-/ |date=May 6, 2019 |title=Joe Biden claims he was a staunch liberal in the Senate. He wasn't |publisher=PolitiFact |access-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506170707/https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2019/may/06/joe-biden/joe-biden-claims-he-was-staunch-liberal-senate-he-/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As a presidential nominee, Biden's platform had been called the most progressive of any major party platform in history, although not within his party's ideological vanguard.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Louis |last=Jacobson |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/17/barack-obama/joe-bidens-platform-progressive-obama-says/%7Cdate=April 17, 2020 |title=Is Joe Biden's platform as progressive as Obama says? |publisher=PolitiFact}}</ref> Biden says his positions are deeply influenced by Catholic social teaching.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|book|last=Lamport |first=Mark |title=The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Contemporary Christianity in the United States |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |year=2022 |isbn=9781538138816 |pages=113}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Rocca |first=Francis X. |date=February 5, 2021 |title=Can Catholic Social Teaching Unite a Divided America? |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/can-catholic-social-teaching-unite-a-divided-america-11612540382 |access-date=September 28, 2023 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=O'Dowd |first=Niall |author-link=Niall O'Dowd |date=April 30, 2021 |title=Joe Biden's Catholic social teaching central to his presidency |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/niallodowd/joe-bidens-catholic-social-teaching-central-presidency |access-date=September 28, 2023 |website=IrishCentral}}</ref>
According to political scientist Carlo Invernizzi Accetti, Biden represents an Americanized form of Christian democracy, taking positions characteristic of both the center-right and center-left.<ref name="Foreign Policy">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden has cited the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain, credited with starting the Christian democratic movement, as immensely influential in his thinking.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Other analysts have likened his ideology to traditional liberalism, "a doctrine of liberty, equality, justice and individual rights that relies... on a strong federal government for enforcement".<ref name="Greenberg">{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Greenberg|first=David|date=September 12, 2019|title=The danger of confusing liberals and leftists|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/09/12/stop-calling-bernie-sanders-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-liberals/%7Caccess-date=August 6, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> In 2022, journalist Sasha Issenberg wrote that Biden's "most valuable political skill" was "an innate compass for the ever-shifting mainstream of the Democratic Party".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Some critics claimed Biden's climate policy was socialist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Folley |first1=Aris |last2=Jagoda |first2=Naomi |last3=Lillis |first3=Mike |title=Five takeaways: House passes Biden's sweeping benefits bill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/582418-five-takeaways-house-passes-bidens-sweeping-benefits-bill/ |access-date=March 12, 2025 |newspaper=The Hill |date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>
Biden proposed partially reversing the corporate tax cuts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Joseph|last=Zeballos-Roig|date=September 11, 2020|title=Joe Biden pledges to roll back Trump's corporate tax cuts on 'day one,' saying it won't hurt businesses' ability to hire|work=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-trumps-tax-cuts-day-one-presidency-economy-2020-9%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=November 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122232506/https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-trumps-tax-cuts-day-one-presidency-economy-2020-9%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Megan|last=Henney|date=June 30, 2020|title=Biden pledges to roll back Trump's tax cuts: 'A lot of you may not like that'|agency=Fox Business|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/biden-pledges-to-undo-trumps-tax-cuts-a-lot-of-you-may-not-like-that%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112205316/https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/biden-pledges-to-undo-trumps-tax-cuts-a-lot-of-you-may-not-like-that%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> He voted for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url-status=dead |title=Final Senate Vote on NAFTA |publisher=Public Citizen |url=https://www.citizen.org/print_article.cfm?ID=15960 |access-date=August 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608182639/https://www.citizen.org/print_article.cfm?ID=15960 |archive-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Mike |last=Lillis |date=January 28, 2016 |title=Biden coaxes Dems on Obama trade deal |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/267420-biden-coaxes-dems-on-obama-trade-deal |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107075246/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/267420-biden-coaxes-dems-on-obama-trade-deal |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).<ref name="ACA203">{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Dan|last=Diamond|date=July 15, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2021|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/15/joe-biden-health-care-plan-1415850%7Ctitle=Biden unveils health care plan: Affordable Care Act 2.0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103083823/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/15/joe-biden-health-care-plan-1415850%7Carchive-date=January 3, 2021|newspaper=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Bill|last=Barrow|date=July 15, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2021|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-aggressively-defends-the-affordable-care-act%7Ctitle=Biden aggressively defends the Affordable Care Act|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103083902/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-aggressively-defends-the-affordable-care-act%7Carchive-date=January 3, 2021|agency=Associated Press|publisher=PBS}}</ref> He promoted a plan to build upon it,<ref name="ACA203" /> aiming to expand health insurance coverage to 97% of Americans, including by creating a public health insurance option.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Scott |first=Dylan |date=August 20, 2020 |title=Joe Biden has a chance to finish the work of Obamacare |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/8/20/21372511/joe-biden-obamacare-health-care-plan%7Caccess-date=November 27, 2020 |website=Vox |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105044015/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/8/20/21372511/joe-biden-obamacare-health-care-plan |url-status=live}}</ref>
Biden did not support national same-sex marriage rights while in the Senate and voted for the Defense of Marriage Act,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Roll Call Votes 104th Congress – 2nd Session |date=September 10, 1996 |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1042/vote_104_2_00280.htm |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=United States Senate}}</ref> but opposed proposals for constitutional amendments that would have banned same-sex marriage nationwide.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Roll Call Vote 109th Congress – 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1092/vote_109_2_00163.htm |date=June 7, 2006 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=United States Senate}}</ref> Biden has supported same-sex marriage since 2012.<ref name="NYT Biden Evolution on LGBTQ" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=May 6, 2012|title=May 6: Joe Biden, Kelly Ayotte, Diane Swonk, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Todd |publisher=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47311900 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405045344/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/47311900/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/may-joe-biden-kelly-ayotte-diane-swonk-tom-brokaw-chuck-todd/ |url-status=live}}</ref> As a senator, Biden forged deep relationships with police groups and was a chief proponent of a Police Officer's Bill of Rights measure that police unions supported but police chiefs opposed.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Kranish |first=Michael |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Joe Biden let police groups write his crime bill. Now, his agenda has changed.|newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/joe-biden-let-police-groups-write-his-crime-bill-now-his-agenda-has-changed/2020/06/08/82ab969e-a434-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112174038/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/joe-biden-let-police-groups-write-his-crime-bill-now-his-agenda-has-changed/2020/06/08/82ab969e-a434-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html%7Carchive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=McDermott|first1=Nathan|last2=Steck|first2=Em|date=June 10, 2020|title=Biden repeatedly pushed bill in Senate that critics said would have made investigating police officers for misconduct more difficult|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/10/politics/biden-senate-police-officers-kfile/index.html%7Curl-status=live%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116122904/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/10/politics/biden-senate-police-officers-kfile/index.html%7Carchive-date=November 16, 2020|access-date=November 13, 2020|publisher=CNN}}</ref> In 2020, Biden also ran on decriminalizing cannabis,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=December 28, 2020 |title=President-Elect Joe Biden and the Future of Cannabis Policy in America |first=Whitt |last=Steineker |publisher=Bradley Arant Boult Cummings |url=https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2020/12/president-elect-joe-biden-and-the-future-of-cannabis-policy-in-america |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217144322/https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2020/12/president-elect-joe-biden-and-the-future-of-cannabis-policy-in-america |url-status=dead }}</ref> after advocating harsher penalties for drug use as a senator.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=October 9, 1982 |title=U.S. Plans A New Drive On Narcotics |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/09/us/us-plans-a-new-drive-on-narcotics.html |first=Leslie |last=Maitland |access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Democratic Response to Drug Policy Address |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?8997-1/democratic-response-drug-policy-address |access-date=May 13, 2023 |publisher=C-SPAN}}</ref>
Biden believes action must be taken on climate change. As a senator, he co-sponsored the Boxer–Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, the most stringent climate bill in the United States Senate.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden supports nature conservation. According to a report from the Center for American Progress, he broke several records in this domain.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Biden reached conservation records in 2023 |url=https://westernpriorities.org/2023/12/biden-reached-conservation-records-in-2023/ |publisher=Center for Western Priorities |date=December 21, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> He took steps to protect old-growth forests.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Aratani |first1=Lauren |title=Joe Biden plans to ban logging in US old-growth forests in 2025 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/19/biden-forest-logging-ban-old-trees |access-date=January 31, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=December 19, 2023}}</ref> Biden opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Presidential Candidates views on ANWR, The Democrats |url=https://www.anwr.org/Politics/Presidential-Candidates-views-on-ANWR-The-Democrats.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807162357/https://www.anwr.org/Politics/Presidential-Candidates-views-on-ANWR-The-Democrats.php |archive-date=August 7, 2008 |access-date=August 25, 2008 |publisher=Arctic National Wildlife Refuge}}</ref> He wants to achieve a carbon-free power sector in the U.S. by 2035 and stop emissions completely by 2050.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Carr|first1=Bob|date=September 2, 2020|title=Joe Biden's bold climate policies would leave Australia behind|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/02/joe-bidens-bold-climate-policies-would-leave-australia-behind%7Caccess-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921170525/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/02/joe-bidens-bold-climate-policies-would-leave-australia-behind%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> His program included reentering the Paris Agreement, green building and more.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Moore |first1=Elena |date=October 16, 2020 |title=Trump's And Biden's Plans For The Environment |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/16/920484187/trumps-and-biden-s-plans-for-the-environment |access-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030113807/https://www.npr.org/2020/10/16/920484187/trumps-and-biden-s-plans-for-the-environment |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden supports environmental justice, including climate justice and ocean justice.Template:Efn Biden called global temperature rise above the 1.5Template:Nbsp°C limit the "only existential threat humanity faces even more frightening than a nuclear war".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Clifford |first1=Catherine |title=Biden says global warming topping 1.5 degrees in the next 10 to 20 years is scarier than nuclear war |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/11/biden-global-warming-even-more-frightening-than-nuclear-war.html |access-date=October 27, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=September 11, 2023}}</ref> Despite his clean energy policies and congressional Republicans characterizing them as a "War on American Energy", domestic oil production reached a record high in October 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Borenstein |first1=Seth |title=US oil production hits all-time high, conflicting with efforts to cut heat-trapping pollution |url=https://apnews.com/article/oil-fossil-fuels-climate-change-biden-df27160fc81f28d21fbf1fc5575b77bc |publisher=Associated Press News |date=October 20, 2023}}</ref>
Biden has said the U.S. needs to "get tough" on China, calling it the "most serious competitor" that poses challenges to the United States' "prosperity, security, and democratic values".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Remarks by President Biden on America's Place in the World |publisher=The White House |date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |url= https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/}}</ref> Biden has spoken about human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, pledging to sanction and commercially restrict Chinese government officials and entities who carry out repression.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Edward |first1=Wong |last2=Crawley |first2=Michael |last3=Swanson |first3=Ana |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Joe Biden's China Journey |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/06/us/politics/biden-china.html%7Caccess-date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112163033/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/06/us/politics/biden-china.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden has said he is against regime change but is for providing non-military support to opposition movements.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=February 6, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/joe-biden-foreign-policy.html |title=Foreign Policy, Joseph R. Biden Jr. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811235654/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/joe-biden-foreign-policy.html |archive-date=August 11, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> He opposed direct U.S. intervention in Libya,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Peter |last=Baker |date=October 9, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2021|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/us/politics/a-biden-run-would-expose-foreign-policy-differences-with-hillary-clinton.html |title=A Biden Run Would Expose Foreign Policy Differences With Hillary Clinton |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201216223923/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/10/us/politics/a-biden-run-would-expose-foreign-policy-differences-with-hillary-clinton.html%7Carchive-date=December 16, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="The New York Times-2" /> voted against U.S. participation in the Gulf War,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Peter |last=Wehner |title=Biden Was Wrong On the Cold War|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122049148440397625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006022121/https://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB122049148440397625.html |date=September 4, 2008 |archive-date=October 6, 2008|access-date=August 26, 2021}}</ref> voted in favor of the Iraq War,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Robert |last=Farley |date=September 10, 2019|title=Biden's Record on Iraq War |website=FactCheck.org |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/bidens-record-on-iraq-war/%7Caccess-date=January 24, 2021|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107172331/https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/bidens-record-on-iraq-war/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> and supports a two-state solution in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=December 12, 2019|access-date=August 26, 2021|url= https://www.jta.org/2019/12/12/united-states/where-does-joe-biden-stand-on-anti-semitism-israel-and-other-issues-that-matter-to-jewish-voters-in-2020%7Ctitle=Where does Joe Biden stand on anti-Semitism, Israel and other issues that matter to Jewish voters in 2020?|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111070241/https://www.jta.org/2019/12/12/united-states/where-does-joe-biden-stand-on-anti-semitism-israel-and-other-issues-that-matter-to-jewish-voters-in-2020%7Carchive-date=January 11, 2021|agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}</ref> Biden pledged to end U.S. support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and to reevaluate the United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia.<ref name="foreign-policy2">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden supported extending the New START arms control treaty with Russia to limit the number of nuclear weapons deployed by both sides.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first1=Jonathan|last1=Landay|first2=Arshad|last2=Mohammed |title=Biden urged to extend U.S.-Russia arms treaty for full 5 years without conditions |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-armscontrol-idUSKBN2852Y0 |publisher=Reuters |date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512204150/https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-biden-armscontrol-idUSKBN2852Y0 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Pifer |first1=Steven |title=Reviving nuclear arms control under Biden |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/12/01/reviving-nuclear-arms-control-under-biden/ |publisher=Brookings Institution |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201173216/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/12/01/reviving-nuclear-arms-control-under-biden/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Biden officially recognized the Armenian genocide, becoming the first U.S. president to do so.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Kevin|last=Liptak|title=Biden officially recognizes the massacre of Armenians in World War I as a genocide|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/24/politics/armenian-genocide-biden-erdogan-turkey/index.html%7Cpublisher=CNN|date=April 24, 2021|access-date=April 25, 2021}}</ref>Template:Efn
Biden supported abortion rights throughout his presidency, though he personally opposes abortion because of his Catholic faith.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Collins |first1=Michael |last2=Jackson |first2=David |title=Abortion shapes Joe Biden's and Donald Trump's legacies. It may help one of them win reelection. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/04/13/abortion-joe-biden-donald-trumps-legacies-reelection/73121953007/ |website=USA Today |date=April 13, 2024 |access-date=April 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |title=Biden says he's "not big on abortion" because of Catholic faith, but Roe "got it right" |publisher=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-abortion-catholic-faith-roe-v-wade-got-it-right/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |date=June 28, 2023}}</ref> In 2019, he said he supported Roe v. Wade and repealing the Hyde Amendment.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|date=March 29, 2019|title=When Joe Biden Voted to Let States Overturn Roe v. Wade|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/us/politics/biden-abortion-rights.html%7Caccess-date=August 8, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806121254/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/us/politics/biden-abortion-rights.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Siders |first=Dave |date=June 22, 2019 |title=Biden calls for enshrining Roe v. Wade in federal law |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/22/biden-roe-v-wade-2020-1376712 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402175549/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/22/biden-roe-v-wade-2020-1376712 |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |newspaper=Politico}}</ref> After Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, he criticized near-total bans on abortion access passed in a majority of Republican-controlled states,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Leonhardt |first=David |date=April 6, 2023 |title=The Power and Limits of Abortion Politics |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/world/wisconsin-chicago-elections-abortion.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |quote=After the Supreme Court overturned Roe last June and allowed states to ban abortion, more than a dozen quickly imposed tight restrictions. Today, abortion is largely illegal in most of red America, even though polls suggest many voters in these states support at least some access.}}</ref> and took measures to protect abortion rights in the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Panetta |first=Grace |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Biden calls out abortion by name and skewers 'extreme' bans in State of the Union address |url=https://19thnews.org/2023/02/biden-abortion-state-of-the-union/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |agency=The 19th}}</ref> Biden rejected calls to provide abortion services on federal land.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He vowed to sign a bill codifying the protections of Roe into federal law; such a bill passed the House in 2022, but was unable to clear the Senate filibuster.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Public image
Biden was consistently ranked one of the least wealthy members of the Senate,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Wallsten|first=Peter|date=August 24, 2008|title=Demographics part of calculation: Biden adds experience, yes, but he could also help with Catholics, blue-collar whites and women|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=August 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515025410/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-24-na-assess24-story.html%7Carchive-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which he attributed to having been elected young.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Feeling that less-wealthy public officials may be tempted to accept contributions in exchange for political favors, he proposed campaign finance reform measures during his first term.<ref name="cby-44" /> While a senator, Biden was viewed as being close to the credit card company MBNA, a major contributor to his campaigns since 1989, sometimes being called the "senator from MBNA".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, Biden's net worth was $27,012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, the Bidens were worth $9 million, largely due to sales of Biden's books and speaking fees after his vice presidency.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Political columnist David S. Broder wrote that Biden has grown over time: "He responds to real people—that's been consistent throughout. And his ability to understand himself and deal with other politicians has gotten much, much better."<ref name="watn020109" /> Journalist James Traub has written that "Biden is the kind of fundamentally happy person who can be as generous toward others as he is to himself".<ref name="nytm-traub" /> Particularly since the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Biden has been noted for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Nagle|first=Molly|date=December 19, 2020|title=Nearly 50 years after death of wife and daughter, empathy remains at Joe Biden's core|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251%7Caccess-date=March 17, 2021|agency=ABC News|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302080416/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/50-years-death-wife-daughter-empathy-remains-joe/story?id=74814251%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>
Journalist and TV anchor Wolf Blitzer has called Biden loquacious;<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=January 12, 2006|title=Transcripts|work=The Situation Room|publisher=CNN|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/12/sitroom.01.html%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=September 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719103425/https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/12/sitroom.01.html%7Carchive-date=July 19, 2008}}</ref> journalist Mark Bowden has said that he is famous for "talking too much", leaning in close "like an old pal with something urgent to tell you".<ref name="The Atlantic" /> He often deviates from prepared remarks,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Smith|first=Ben|date=December 2, 2008|title=Biden, enemy of the prepared remarks|newspaper=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2008/12/biden-enemy-of-the-prepared-remarks-014500%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911131530/https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2008/12/biden-enemy-of-the-prepared-remarks-014500%7Carchive-date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> and sometimes "puts his foot in his mouth".<ref name="nyt-no2" /><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Tapper|first=Jake|author-link=Jake Tapper|date=January 31, 2007|title=A Biden Problem: Foot in Mouth|agency=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=2838420%7Curl-status=live%7Caccess-date=September 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827211803/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=2838420%7Carchive-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden has a reputation for being prone to gaffes.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/joe-biden-news-joe-biden-gaffe-joe-biden-speech-mistakes-watch-joe-biden-in-latest-gaffe-has-two-words-to-say-made-in-america-101665383434183.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |first=Mallika |last=Bhagat |title=Watch: Joe Biden's latest gaffe- a rocky start and a counting problem |quote='Let me start off with two words: Made in America' |date=October 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|first=Luke |last=O'Neil |date=April 25, 2019 |title='I am a gaffe machine': a history of Joe Biden's biggest blunders |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/25/joe-biden-2020-public-gaffes-mistakes-history |access-date=January 26, 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202133135/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/25/joe-biden-2020-public-gaffes-mistakes-history |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Broder |first=John M. |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Hanging On to Biden's Every Word: Biden living up to his gaffe-prone reputation |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12biden.html |access-date=February 13, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |quote=But, boy, does he say some curious things. A day on the campaign trail without a cringe-inducing gaffe is a rare blessing. He has not been too blessed lately.... a human verbal wrecking crew.}}</ref> The New York Times wrote that Biden's "weak filters make him capable of blurting out pretty much anything".<ref name="nyt-no2" />
According to The New York Times, Biden often embellishes elements of his life or exaggerates, a trait also noted by The New Yorker in 2014.<ref name="The New Yorker">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="The New York Times">{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Qiu |first2=Linda |date=October 10, 2022 |title=Biden, Storyteller in Chief, Spins Yarns That Often Unravel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/10/us/politics/biden-exaggeration-falsehood.html |accessdate=October 11, 2022 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> For instance, he has claimed to have been more active in the civil rights movement than he actually was, and has falsely recalled being an excellent student who earned three college degrees.<ref name="The New Yorker" /> The Times wrote, "Mr. Biden's folksiness can veer into folklore, with dates that don't quite add up and details that are exaggerated or wrong, the factual edges shaved off to make them more powerful for audiences."<ref name="The New York Times" />
Job approval
According to Morning Consult polling, Biden maintained an approval rating above 50% during his presidency's first eight months. In August 2021, it began to decline, reaching the low forties by December.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Jones |first=Jeffrey M. |date=December 21, 2021 |title=Joe Biden's Job Approval Rating Steady in December |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/358343/joe-biden-job-approval-rating-steady-december.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123222342/https://news.gallup.com/poll/358343/joe-biden-job-approval-rating-steady-december.aspx |archive-date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2022 |publisher=Gallup, Inc.}}</ref> This was attributed to the Afghanistan withdrawal, increasing hospitalizations from the Delta variant, high inflation and gas prices, disarray within the Democratic Party, and a general decline in popularity customary in politics.Template:Efn In 2023, Biden's approval rating was the lowest of any modernTemplate:Efn U.S. president after three years in office.<ref name="gallup2023end">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/547763/biden-ends-2023-job-approval.aspx%7Ctitle=Biden Ends 2023 With 39% Job Approval|first=Megan|last=Brenan|date=December 22, 2023|publisher=Gallup, Inc.}}</ref>
Gallup, Inc. found Biden's approval ratings to be consistently above 50% during his first few months in office,<ref name="Gallup Approval">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but by August, his ratings began to decline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had a 98% approval rating from Democrats in February 2021, but by December only 78% approved of his presidency.<ref name="BidenGallup">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Gallup Approval" /> By October 2023, his rating among Democrats had reached a record low of 75%.<ref name="gallup2023end" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His approval rating among Republicans has been consistently in the single digits, aside from his first few months in office.<ref name="BidenGallup" /> Additionally, Gallup noted that Biden's public support eroded each year he was in office: he averaged 49% approval in his first year,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 41% in his second,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 40% in his third,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 39% in his fourth.<ref name="gallup20250117" /> In July 2024, just before he withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Gallup found his approval rating had fallen to an all-time low of 36%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gallup found that Biden had an average approval rating of 42.2% throughout his presidency, which was lower than all other presidents' except Trump's first term, at 41.1%. Biden's final approval rating in January 2025 was 40%, which was low but still higher than several other presidents' final approval ratings.<ref name="gallup20250117" /> Gallup's averaged polls of Biden's presidency found that he was the second-least popular president in its polling history, ahead of Trump.<ref name="gallup20250117">Template:Cite web</ref>
CNN and CBS News found Biden's final approval rating to be 37% and 36%, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Polling aggregator FiveThirtyEight found that Biden had a final average approval rating of 37%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Media depictions
Template:See also Nine men have portrayed Biden on Saturday Night Live, starting with Kevin Nealon in 1991. Jason Sudeikis portrayed Biden during the 2008 election season and reprised the role many times. During the 2020 election season, Biden was played by John Mulaney, Alex Moffat, Mikey Day, Woody Harrelson, and Jim Carrey. In 2024, Dana Carvey played the role.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url= https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/joe-biden-snl-actors%7Ctitle= Everyone Who Has Played Joe Biden on SNL|publisher= NBC|date= September 27, 2024|accessdate= October 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2016, Greg Kinnear portrayed Biden in the HBO television film Confirmation, about the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Miller |first=Liz Shannon |date=June 10, 2016 |title=Greg Kinnear Doesn't Do Impressions, But He Did Channel Joe Biden in 'Confirmation' (Consider This) |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/greg-kinnear-joe-biden-confirmation-emmys-1201682835/ |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=IndieWire}}</ref>
Biden appears in episodes of Parks and Recreation during his time as vice president.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appears as himself in a 2016 episode of Law & Order: SVU.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Onion featured a series of articles about a fictionalized Joe Biden.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Assessments
A December 2024 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans thought Biden's presidency was below average or poor, 26% average, and 19% above average or outstanding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gallup found that Americans largely offered negative assessments of Biden's presidency on economic, national, and international issues. Of 18 issue areas Gallup tracked, a majority of Americans said the U.S. lost ground in six, including the economy in general, immigration, and the country's position in the world. A plurality found that the U.S. declined in six other areas, including national infrastructure and energy, education, and trade relations with other countries. A plurality felt the U.S. made progress in only one indicator under Biden: the conditions of gay, lesbian, and transgender people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Journalist Amy Walter, editor of the nonpartisan The Cook Political Report, argued that the public deemed Biden's presidency a failure particularly due to frustration over inflation. Walter said that voters considered inflation the most important element of the economy, more important than the stock market, low unemployment, or household income.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Economists debate the extent to which Biden's policies were responsible for inflation,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/post-neoliberal-delusion%7Ctitle=The Post-Neoliberal Delusion and the Tragedy of Bidenomics|first1=Jason|last1=Furman|date=February 10, 2025|access-date=February 10, 2025|quote=Jason Furman is Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard University. He was Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers from 2013 to 2017.|website=Foreign Affairs|volume=104|issue=2}}</ref> but according to Gallup, public perception of the economy in 2024 was worse only in 2008 and 1992, helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/653303/political-fundamentals-foreshadowed-trump-victory.aspx%7Ctitle=Political Fundamentals Foreshadowed Trump Victory|date=November 8, 2024|access-date=November 15, 2024|publisher=Gallup, Inc.|first1=Megan|last1=Brenan|first2=Jeffrey M.|last2=Jones|first3=Lydia|last3=Saad}}</ref>
The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked Biden 19th out of 45 presidents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert survey ranked Biden the 14th-best president.<ref name="bc">Template:Cite web</ref> A February 2024 American Political Science Association poll of historians and scholars ranked Biden the 14th-greatest president, diverging from public assessments. The pollsters noted that Biden's ranking was unusually high for a presidency without military victories or institutional expansion. The experts polled generally regarded Biden's signature accomplishment as his victory over Trump in the 2020 election, which was perceived as helping to protect and restore political and institutional norms in U.S. government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="bc" />
When Biden left office in 2025, journalists and many Democrats viewed his presidency as a failure due to age and health concerns, public frustration over inflation, and Harris's loss to Trump in the 2024 presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.vox.com/politics/394712/joe-biden-president-legacy-inflation-manchin%7Ctitle=The president who could not choose|date=January 14, 2025|access-date=January 16, 2025|website=Vox|first1=Dylan|last1=Matthews}}</ref> The Guardian called the conclusion of Biden's presidency a "tragedy", particularly because Biden was succeeded by Trump after previously defeating him.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/jan/18/biden-presidency-legacy-trump-election%7Ctitle=An American tragedy: how Biden paved the way for Trump's White House return|first1=David|last1=Smith|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=January 18, 2025|date=January 18, 2025|quote=To admirers, Biden will remain one of the most consequential one-term presidents in US history - to detractors, he was undone by a fatal flaw.}}</ref> Journalist Ronald Brownstein compared Biden to Jimmy Carter: Biden's presidency was overshadowed by the 2021–2023 inflation surge, much as the 1970s energy crisis and stagflation overshadowed Carter's presidency. Both men were Democrats and served a single term as president.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election was compared to Lyndon B. Johnson's withdrawal from the 1968 presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Anti-war protests, a Chicago DNC: Is it 1968 all over again? Some historians say no|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1250917132/1968-anti-war-protests-dnc-chicago%7Clast1=Treisman%7Cfirst1=Rachel%7Cwork=NPR%7Cdate=May 14, 2024|access-date=May 19, 2025|agency=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=August 22, 2021|title=Biden's job ratings decline amid Covid surge, Afghanistan withdrawal in NBC News poll|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/biden-s-job-ratings-decline-amid-covid-surge-afghanistan-withdrawal-n1277368%7Caccess-date=May 19, 2025|agency=NBC News}}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
See also
- Bibliography of Joe Biden
- Electoral history of Joe Biden
- List of presidents of the United States
- List of presidents of the United States by previous experience
- List of things named after Joe Biden
Notes
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
References
Citations
Works cited
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
Further reading
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite magazine
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
External links
{{#invoke:Sister project links|main |auto=yes}} Template:Library resources box
Official
- President Joe Biden official website (archived)
- Template:Webarchive
- Obama White House biography (archived)
- Senator Joseph R. Biden (1973–2009)
Other
- Template:C-SPAN
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:New York Times topic
- Joe Biden at On the Issues
- Joe Biden at PolitiFact
Template:Joe Biden Template:Navboxes top Template:S-start Template:S-ppo Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-par Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-new Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-hon Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-off Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft
Template:S-prec Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end Template:Navboxes bottom
Template:Navboxes top Template:US Presidents Template:US Order of Precedence Template:Biden cabinet Template:US Vice Presidents Template:Obama cabinet Template:United States presidential election, 2024 Template:2020 United States presidential election Template:2012 United States presidential election Template:2008 United States presidential election Template:1988 United States presidential election Template:Biden Vice Presidential staff Template:US Senate Foreign Relations chairs Template:US Senate Judiciary chairs Template:US Senators of Delaware Template:Patriot Act Template:Democratic Party (United States) Template:Time Persons of the Year Template:USCongRep-start Template:USCongRep/DE/93 Template:USCongRep/DE/94 Template:USCongRep/DE/95 Template:USCongRep/DE/96 Template:USCongRep/DE/97 Template:USCongRep/DE/98 Template:USCongRep/DE/99 Template:USCongRep/DE/100 Template:USCongRep/DE/101 Template:USCongRep/DE/102 Template:USCongRep/DE/103 Template:USCongRep/DE/104 Template:USCongRep/DE/105 Template:USCongRep/DE/106 Template:USCongRep/DE/107 Template:USCongRep/DE/108 Template:USCongRep/DE/109 Template:USCongRep/DE/110 Template:USCongRep/DE/111 Template:USCongRep-end Template:Navboxes bottom {{#invoke:Authority control|authorityControl}}
- Pages with broken file links
- Joe Biden
- 1942 births
- Living people
- Biden family
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century Delaware politicians
- 20th-century Roman Catholics
- 20th-century United States senators
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American memoirists
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century presidents of the United States
- 21st-century Roman Catholics
- 21st-century vice presidents of the United States
- 2008 United States vice-presidential candidates
- 2012 United States vice-presidential candidates
- American abortion-rights activists
- American activists with disabilities
- American male non-fiction writers
- American people of English descent
- American people of French descent
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- American politicians with disabilities
- American Roman Catholics
- American Christian Zionists
- Archmere Academy alumni
- Articles containing video clips
- Candidates in the 1988 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2020 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election
- Catholics from Pennsylvania
- Catholic politicians from Delaware
- Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- County council members and commissioners in Delaware
- Delaware Democrats
- Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football players
- Delaware lawyers
- Democratic Party (United States) vice presidential nominees
- Democratic Party presidents of the United States
- Democratic Party United States senators from Delaware
- Democratic Party vice presidents of the United States
- Laetare Medal recipients
- New Castle County, Delaware politicians
- Obama administration cabinet members
- People associated with the January 6 United States Capitol attack
- People from Claymont, Delaware
- People of the Gaza War
- People with speech disorders
- Politicians from Wilmington, Delaware
- Politicians from Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
- Presidents of the United States
- Writers from Wilmington, Delaware
- Public defenders
- Recipients of Hilal-i-Pakistan
- Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class
- Recipients of St. George's Order of Victory
- Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Distinction of Israel
- Syracuse University College of Law alumni
- Time Person of the Year
- University of Delaware alumni
- University of Pennsylvania faculty
- Vice presidents of the United States
- Widener University faculty
- Writers from Scranton, Pennsylvania