President Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20 formally marked both his return to the White House and the close of former President Joe Biden’s four-year run at the helm. Biden’s time in the presidency was marked by both progress and controversy, serving as one of the more polarizing administrations in recent memory. As we examine his presidency, we’ve assembled a performance review reflecting on highs and lows of Biden’s term.
During his time in office, Biden implemented progressive policies that have been beneficial across the country. Nationally, Biden advocated for prison reform by removing 37 prisoners from the federal death row and commuting their sentences to life in prison. To us, this signifies a gradual move away from the death penalty. Biden was also able to reach a bipartisan agreement on an infrastructure package meant to improve American roads, bridges and ports. The agreement helps to improve the conditions in town across America.
Biden also assisted in economic recovery following the impact of the pandemic on American jobs. In a direct statement released by the White House in July 2024, Biden stated that a “record 15.7 million jobs had been created during (his) administration.” A total of 206,000 jobs were noted to have been established in the month previous to his statement. A Forbes article also supported this, stating that from January 2021-January 2024, employment rose to an overall 11.3 million under Biden’s presidency. We see this is a massive win following the drop in employment associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial struggles that countless Americans have faced.
In addition to this, Biden was also a strong advocate for student loan forgiveness, and was able to secure nearly $180 billion in debt relief. While Biden’s plans for outright student debt relief were ultimately defeated, his commitment to helping those of us who are currently in college and concerned about paying off our student loans does not go unnoticed. As students, we appreciate the effort to support those paying off massive debt, however this is only the tip of the iceberg for affordable higher education.
The positive impacts of Biden’s presidency were also seen globally through the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided the largest climate investment in American history. This investment was an important victory for those living around the world. The recent tragedies associated with the California wildfires highlight the importance of Biden’s contribution. As part of the generation inheriting our current climate, we continue to push for more emphasis on planetary health.
Although there were positive aspects of Biden’s presidency, there were also glaring flaws.
One primary point of our attention during Biden’s term was the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Biden released a statement in the hours following, highlighting that he believed the decision put the “health and life of women in this nation at risk.” A 2024 New York Times article summarized that 17% of survey respondents found Biden responsible for the overturning, questioning if there was more he could’ve done to prevent the ruling.
During his State of the Union address on March 7, 2024, and with November election in mind, Biden stated his intention to nationally restore the protections afforded by Roe V. Wade. However, he dropped out of the presidential race soon after, leaving us with many questions. If he intended to do something in the future, why didn’t he intervene in the present? Biden’s statement did not help anyone regain the right to their reproductive autonomy, and as president, the American people deserved actions from Biden that supported his words.
We also hold massive critiques regarding the Biden administration’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Emphasizing the U.S. government’s priority for military alliance over human life, the U.S. provided Israel with weaponry and economic aid, ultimately allowing them to commit genocide. While Biden has called for humanitarian aid, he took little to no action to alleviate violence that’s impacted countless lives. To us, that feels simply inhumane.
Another negative aspect of Biden’s presidency that stuck out to us was ultimately, his age. On numerous occasions, Biden was seen stumbling through his words during speeches, appearing dazed and confused and making off-color comments at the most inappropriate of times. Concerns over his mental clarity peaked after his disastrous debate performance– one that likely influenced his decision to withdraw from the presidential race. These continued gaffes forced us to question whether or not people at Biden’s age should even be allowed to serve in public office. After all, if you’re well past both the retirement-age and the age requirement to collect Social Security benefits, how can you possibly represent the bulk of the country, let alone young voters?
Following Trump’s inauguration, we find ourselves anticipating our nation’s next steps. We remain critical of Trump’s potential policies regarding tariffs, human rights issues, international relations, inflation, overall costs of living and climate agenda. Despite the troubling times that many Americans currently face, we continue to advocate for an administration that will act in favor of the American people.
