President Joe Biden’s tenure in the White House has been marked by a series of failures in key areas of national importance, according to a new Gallup survey that gauges Americans’ views on his handling of crucial domestic and foreign policy issues. Despite his frequent claims of success, Biden has underperformed compared to his recent predecessors, including Presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.
In a comparison of their foreign policy and national defense records, Biden ranks at the bottom. The survey reveals that Biden’s approval on national defense was deeply negative, with a net rating of -19%. This is far worse than Trump’s +25%, Obama’s -9%, or Bush’s +3%. Americans are particularly dissatisfied with Biden’s handling of the military, especially after the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and the embarrassing episode where a Chinese spy balloon freely traversed the United States before being shot down. Nearly 40% of Americans believe the country’s defense position weakened under Biden’s leadership.
When it comes to immigration, Biden’s record is similarly poor. A staggering 51% of Americans feel that immigration has worsened under his watch, with only 13% stating that the situation has improved. This is a sharp contrast to the more favorable ratings given to Presidents Trump, Bush, and Obama, who all received much better marks on immigration.
Biden’s handling of the federal debt also has Americans deeply concerned. The national debt has skyrocketed to over $36 trillion, and Biden’s rating on this issue is a dismal -56%, the worst among the last four presidents. Even Obama and Trump, both of whom dealt with substantial debt challenges, scored higher than Biden on this front.
Interestingly, the only area where Biden received any positive feedback was on the treatment of LGBT Americans, though his +16% rating pales in comparison to Obama’s +52% or even Trump’s modest +4%. Meanwhile, Biden’s approval on crime was also poor, with a net negative rating of -32%, only slightly better than Obama’s -35% but far behind Trump’s -13%.
As Biden prepares to leave office, a growing number of Americans view his presidency unfavorably. A separate Gallup poll reveals that most Americans expect Biden to be remembered as a “below average” or “poor” president. Only a small fraction—6%—believe Biden’s presidency will be seen as “outstanding,” while 37% view him as “below average,” and 17% say he will be remembered as a “poor” leader.
With the nation facing escalating crises at home and abroad, it’s clear that Biden’s time in office has left much to be desired, and many Americans are eager for change in leadership come January 2025.