Joe Biden

Joseph R. Biden Jr. was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1942 and grew up in Delaware. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, shortly before his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. Over six Senate terms, he became known for work on foreign policy, judiciary issues, crime legislation, and bipartisan dealmaking. He served as Barack Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017 and was elected president in 2020.

Biden took office in January 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, and the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack. His administration passed the American Rescue Plan, a major relief package aimed at pandemic recovery. He also emphasized vaccination, economic reopening, and restoration of traditional alliances.

His legislative record included the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which included major climate, health care, and tax provisions. Foreign policy was shaped by the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and by U.S. support for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Inflation surged in 2021 and 2022, damaging public confidence despite job growth and later easing price increases.

Biden’s age and fitness became central political issues during his term. After a poor debate performance in 2024, he ended his reelection campaign in July and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Donald Trump won the 2024 election, and Biden left office on January 20, 2025. His post-presidency began with debate over how to weigh his legislative achievements against inflation, Afghanistan, border politics, and questions about his capacity to seek a second term.