Challenges Faced by Joe Biden: Obstacles and Turning Points

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Joe Biden's life and career.

Joe Biden served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025). A Democrat, he previously represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2009. He also served as the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1934: State Legislative Chambers Result

The 2022 midterm election was the first since 1934 in which the president's party lost no state legislative chambers.

1968: Earned Juris Doctor

In 1968, Joe Biden earned a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law, though he initially failed a course due to plagiarism.

1968: Received Medical Deferment

In 1968, Joe Biden received a conditional medical deferment from the draft, reportedly due to having had "asthma as a teenager".

December 18, 1972: Death of Wife and Daughter

On December 18, 1972, Joe Biden's wife Neilia and one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in an automobile accident in Hockessin, Delaware.

1980: Biden Loses American Samoa Contest

In 2024, Joe 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.

1986: Midterm Election Result

The 2022 midterm election was the first midterm election since 1986 in which the incumbent president's party achieved a net gain in governorships.

September 23, 1987: Withdrawal from 1988 Presidential Race

On September 23, 1987, Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy from the 1988 presidential race after accusations of plagiarism and false claims about his academic record.

February 1988: Surgery for Intracranial Berry Aneurysm

In February 1988, Joe Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking intracranial berry aneurysm. While recuperating, he suffered a pulmonary embolism.

1988: Unsuccessful Presidential Run

In 1988, Joe Biden ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination.

1991: Opposed Gulf War

In 1991, Joe Biden opposed the Gulf War.

1991: Clarence Thomas Nomination Hearings

In 1991, during Clarence Thomas's nomination hearings, Joe Biden's questions on constitutional issues were often convoluted. The full Senate confirmed Thomas by a 52–48 vote, with Biden opposed. Liberal legal advocates and women's groups felt strongly that Biden had mishandled the hearings and not done enough to support Anita Hill.

1992: Public Perception of the Economy was Worse Only in 1992

According to Gallup, the public perception of the economy in 2024 was worse only in 2008 and 1992.

1993: Military Ban on Homosexuals

In 1993, Joe Biden voted for a provision that deemed homosexuality incompatible with military life, thereby banning gay people from serving in the armed forces.

1993: Alleged Sexual Assault by Tara Reade

In 1993, according to allegations made by Tara Reade in 2020, Joe Biden sexually assaulted her. These allegations were denied by Biden and his campaign.

1994: Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act

In 1994, Joe Biden helped pass the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which included a ban on assault weapons, and the Violence Against Women Act, which he has called his most significant legislation. The 1994 crime law was unpopular among progressives and criticized for resulting in mass incarceration.

1996: Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Joe Biden voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

January 3, 2008: Withdrawal from 2008 Presidential Race

On January 3, 2008, Joe Biden placed fifth in the Iowa caucuses and withdrew from the 2008 presidential race.

2008: Public Perception of the Economy was Worse Only in 2008

According to Gallup, the public perception of the economy in 2024 was worse only in 2008 and 1992.

2008: Worst Year for Stocks Since 2008

In 2022, stocks had their worst year since 2008 before recovering.

April 2009: Swine Flu Outbreak Gaffe

In April 2009, Joe Biden's off-message response to a question during the swine flu outbreak led to a swift retraction by the White House, reviving Biden's reputation for gaffes.

July 2009: Acknowledged Misreading Economy

In July 2009, Vice President Biden acknowledged the Obama administration had "misread how bad the economy was" in light of rising unemployment. However, he remained confident the stimulus package would create more jobs.

May 2011: Debt Ceiling Crisis Negotiations

During the 2011 U.S. debt ceiling crisis, Joe Biden led negotiations with Congress. His relationship with Mitch McConnell led to the Budget Control Act of 2011 that solved the crisis. Some reports suggest Biden opposed proceeding with the May 2011 U.S. mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

2013: Biden's Memory Lapses

In 2013, as part of an investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur noted that Biden did not remember when he was vice president, specifically stating, "if it was 2013—when did I stop being vice president?" Hur also mentioned that Biden did not recall when his son Beau died, and assessed that his memory "appeared to have significant limitations".

2014: Previous High Deportation Level

The period from October 2023 to September 2024 saw the highest level of deportations from the U.S. since 2014.

September 2019: Trump Pressures Ukraine to Investigate Biden

In September 2019, it was reported that Donald Trump had pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, leading to a political scandal and Trump's impeachment.

2019: Regret over Treatment of Anita Hill

In 2019, Joe Biden told Anita Hill he regretted his treatment of her during the 1991 Clarence Thomas nomination hearings, but Hill said afterward she remained unsatisfied.

2019: Initial Allegations of Inappropriate Contact

In 2019, Tara Reade was among eight women who accused Joe Biden of inappropriate physical contact. Reade later made further allegations in 2020 regarding an incident from 1993.

February 2020: Trump Administration Deal with the Taliban

In February 2020, the Trump administration made a deal with the Taliban to completely withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan by May 1, 2021. This timeline was later adjusted by the Biden administration.

March 2020: Tara Reade Accusation

In late March 2020, Tara Reade accused Joe Biden of sexual assault, relating to an alleged incident in 1993. These allegations were denied by Biden and his campaign.

December 2020: CPI Before Biden's Term

From December 2020 to December 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 21.3% overall, with an annualized inflation rate of 5.3% throughout Biden's term in office.

2020: Campaign Promise

During his 2020 campaign, Biden promised to end the practice with private prison companies, but in his final year of presidency the Biden administration worked to extend at least 14 contracts with private prison companies to run immigrant detention centers.

January 6, 2021: Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol Building while Congress was in session to certify the election results. Joe Biden condemned the events as an unprecedented assault.

January 2021: Border Patrol Encounters Begin

Beginning in January 2021, the US Border Patrol confirmed more than 7.2 million illegal migrants trying to cross the Mexico–United States border by January 2024.

March 2021: Inflation Above Federal Reserve Target

The inflation rate remained above the Federal Reserve's 2% target every month since March 2021, leading to elevated interest rates.

May 1, 2021: Original Deadline for Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan

May 1, 2021 was the original deadline set by the Trump administration in February 2020 for the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Joe Biden delayed the withdrawal.

July 2021: Biden Urges Vaccination Amid Delta Variant Spread

In July 2021, Joe Biden emphasized the importance of Americans getting vaccinated amid a slowing vaccination rate and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant.

August 2021: Decline in Approval Rating

In August 2021, Joe Biden's approval rating began to decline, 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.

2021: Surge in Illegal Border Crossings

In 2021, illegal border crossings at the Mexico-United States border began to surge when Biden assumed office.

February 2022: Response to Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, following the Russian Armed Forces' invasion of Ukraine, President Biden responded by imposing severe sanctions on Russia and authorizing over $8 billion in weapons shipments to Ukraine.

June 2022: Inflation Peaked at 9%

In June 2022, the inflation rate in the U.S. peaked at 9%.

July 21, 2022: Biden Tests Positive for COVID-19

On July 21, 2022, Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 with reportedly mild symptoms. He was treated with Paxlovid and worked in isolation at the White House for five days.

September 2, 2022: Speech and Midterm Elections

On September 2, 2022, Biden delivered a nationally broadcast speech in Philadelphia calling for a "battle for the soul of the nation" and referred to Trump supporters as "semi-fascists."

November 2022: Discovery of Classified Documents at Penn Biden Center

In November 2022, President Biden's attorneys found classified documents dating from his vice presidency in a "locked closet" at the Penn Biden Center. The documents were reported to the U.S. National Archives.

December 2022: No TikTok on Government Devices Act

In December 2022, President Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, prohibiting the use of TikTok on devices owned by the federal government.

2022: Congress approved aid to Ukraine

In 2022, Congress approved about $113 billion in aid to Ukraine.

2022: Real GDP Growth Cools

In 2022, after 5.9% growth in 2021, real GDP growth cooled to 2.1%, with concerns about a recession during the first half of the year.

January 11, 2023: House Investigative Committee into Biden's Son and Brother

On January 11, 2023, the House of Representatives launched an investigative committee into the foreign business activities of President Biden's son, Hunter, and brother, James.

January 12, 2023: Appointment of Special Counsel Robert K. Hur

On January 12, 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Robert K. Hur as special counsel to investigate "possible unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or other records" related to President Biden.

February 4, 2023: Shooting Down of Chinese Surveillance Balloon

On February 4, 2023, President Biden ordered the United States Air Force to shoot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

March 2023: Bank Failures and Regulatory Response

In March 2023, three small- to mid-size U.S. banks failed, leading to a drop in global bank stock prices and a quick response from regulators to prevent a wider crisis. After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, Biden opposed a taxpayer bailout, suggesting that the weakening of Dodd-Frank regulations contributed to the bank's failure.

May 2023: Troops Sent to Border as Title 42 Expires

In May 2023, the Biden administration approved sending 1,500 more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as Title 42 expired.

July 2023: Biden Announces Measures to Combat Heat Waves

In July 2023, as heat waves hit the United States, Biden announced measures to protect the population and linked the heat waves to climate change.

September 2023: COVID-19 Student Loan Pause Extended

In September 2023, Biden extended the COVID-19 student loan pause.

October 2023: Record Low Approval Rating Among Democrats

By October 2023, Joe Biden's approval rating among Democrats had reached a record low of 75%.

October 2023: Easing Inflation Rate

By October 2023, the inflation rate had eased to 3.2% after peaking at 9.1% in June 2022.

October 2023: High Deportation Levels

From October 2023 to September 2024, deportations from the U.S. reached the highest level since 2014.

October 2023: Response to Hamas Attack on Israel

In October 2023, following the Hamas attack on Israel, President Biden stated his support for Israel, condemned Hamas, deployed aircraft carriers, called for additional aid, and pressured Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

October 2023: Request for Additional Aid to Ukraine

In October 2023, the Biden administration requested an additional $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine for the year ahead.

December 13, 2023: Formalization of Impeachment Inquiry into Biden

On December 13, 2023, the House of Representatives voted 221–212 to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

December 2023: Congressional Investigations Find No Evidence of Wrongdoing by Biden

As of December 2023, congressional investigations, including by the House Oversight committee, have discovered no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden.

December 2023: All-Time High in Border Crossings

In December 2023, illegal border crossings at the Mexico-United States border reached an all-time monthly high.

2023: Debt Limit Deal

In 2023, Biden and congressional Republicans faced a standoff over the U.S. debt limit. They reached a deal, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which Biden signed to suspend the debt limit until January 2025, averting a potential default.

2023: Removal of Basal-Cell Carcinoma

In 2023, Joe Biden had a basal-cell carcinoma removed from his chest.

2023: Lowest Approval Rating of Modern U.S. President

In 2023, Joe Biden's approval rating was the lowest of any modern U.S. president after three years in office.

January 2024: Migrants Admitted Under Humanitarian Parole

As of January 2024, over a million migrants had been admitted to the U.S. under humanitarian parole, a measure used by Biden to mitigate illegal border crossings.

January 2024: Border Patrol Encounters End

Between January 2021 and January 2024, the US Border Patrol confirmed more than 7.2 million illegal migrants trying to cross the Mexico–United States border.

January 2024: Support for Bipartisan Immigration Deal

In January 2024, Biden expressed support for a proposed bipartisan immigration deal led by Senators Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford.

January 17, 2024: House Passes Resolution Denouncing Border Handling

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.

February 2024: Charges Against Alexander Smirnov for False Statements

In February 2024, Alexander Smirnov, a former intelligence informant prominent in bribery allegations against President Biden, was charged with making false statements, admitting he publicized a false story given to him by Russian intelligence.

February 29, 2024: Reaction to Killing of Palestinian Civilians Receiving Aid

Following the killing of Palestinian civilians receiving food aid on February 29, 2024, President Biden stated that the current level of aid flowing into Gaza was insufficient.

March 2024: Gallup poll disapproving of Israeli conduct during the war

In March 2024 a Gallup poll found that a strong majority of Americans disapproved of Israeli conduct during the war.

April 2024: Gaza war protests on university campuses

Beginning in April 2024, widespread Gaza war protests emerged on university campuses, denouncing Biden.

April 2024: Signing of Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act

In April 2024, President Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which could ban social networking services deemed to be a "foreign adversary controlled application."

April 2024: Additional aid to Ukraine

In April 2024, an additional $61 billion in aid was added to Ukraine.

May 2024: Exception Granted for Weapon Usage Near Kharkiv

In May 2024, President Biden granted an exception to the policy of not allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons against targets inside Russia, specifically permitting their use for "counter-fire" purposes near Kharkiv.

May 2024: Increased Tariffs on Chinese Imports

In May 2024, the Biden administration doubled tariffs on solar cells and more than tripled tariffs on lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries imported from China, also raising tariffs on steel, aluminum, and medical materials.

May 31, 2024: Biden's Support for Israeli Ceasefire Proposal

On May 31, 2024, President Biden announced his support for an Israeli ceasefire proposal, noting Hamas was "no longer capable" of another large-scale attack. The ceasefire proposal aimed to establish a permanent ceasefire, release hostages, and reconstruct the Gaza Strip.

June 2024: Executive Order Restricting Border

In June 2024, Biden issued an executive order allowing the president to restrict the Mexico–U.S. border.

June 2024: Biden Issues Executive Action on Immigration

In June 2024, Joe Biden issued an executive action offering amnesty to unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens. This program, which included a pathway to U.S. residency and citizenship, was later struck down.

June 2024: Concerns About Biden's Mental Acuity

In June 2024, public concern about Joe Biden's mental acuity was widely covered by the media after a weak performance in a presidential debate. Prior to this event, coverage was limited due to pushback from White House officials. After the 2024 election Biden stated that he may have been too old to serve a second term.

June 27, 2024: First Presidential Debate

On June 27, 2024, the first presidential debate was held between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Biden's performance received wide criticism, with commentators noting he frequently lost his train of thought and provided meandering answers. Polling indicated that most viewers believed Trump won. The debate raised questions about Biden's health and age, leading to calls for him to withdraw from the race.

July 2024: Approval Rating Falls to All-Time Low

In July 2024, just before he withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Gallup found Joe Biden's approval rating had fallen to an all-time low of 36%.

July 17, 2024: Biden Tests Positive for COVID-19 Again

On July 17, 2024, Joe Biden again tested positive for COVID-19.

September 2024: High Deportation Levels

From October 2023 to September 2024, deportations from the U.S. reached the highest level since 2014.

September 25, 2024: House Resolution Condemning Biden Administration on Afghanistan Withdrawal

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.

September 30, 2024: Student Loan Pause Protections End

On September 30, 2024, the "on ramp" period, which extended some protections against credit reporting, collection efforts, and late payment fees related to the COVID-19 student loan pause, ended.

December 2024: Gallup Poll: Negative Assessments of Biden's Presidency

A December 2024 Gallup poll found that 54% of Americans thought Joe Biden's presidency was below average or poor, 26% average, and 19% above average or outstanding, with negative assessments on economic, national, and international issues.

December 2024: End of Term Inflation Rates

In December 2024, the last full month of Biden's term, the inflation rate reached 2.9% and the core inflation rate reached 3.2% on an annual basis.

2024: Withdrawal from Presidential Candidacy

In 2024, after intensifying scrutiny about his age and health following the first presidential debate, Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection.

2024: Public Frustration Over Inflation Deems Presidency a Failure

In 2024, the public deemed Joe Biden's presidency a failure, particularly due to frustration over inflation, which helped Trump win the 2024 presidential election.

2024: Harris's Loss to Trump in the Presidential Election

When Joe 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.

January 2025: Biden Declares Equal Rights Amendment Ratified

In January 2025, Joe Biden declared the lapsed Equal Rights Amendment ratified as the "28th Amendment" to the constitution. The declaration has no formal effect.

January 2025: Debt Limit Suspended

In January 2025, the debt limit suspension agreed to as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which averted a potential default, is set to expire.

May 18, 2025: Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer with Bone Metastasis

On May 18, 2025, it was announced that Joe Biden had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer with bone metastasis during a routine physical examination.

2025: Oldest Sitting President and Cognitive Decline Perceptions

In 2025, Joe Biden was the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. Perceptions of his cognitive health had declined, particularly among Republicans and some media figures, and privately by some Democrats. Biden's family and White House staff were noted to have been insulating him from scrutiny regarding his age and perceived decline in acuity.