Challenges Faced by Joe Biden: Obstacles and Turning Points

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

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who served as the 46th president of the United States (2021-2025). As a member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 47th vice president (2009-2017) and as a U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973-2009).

Sections (7)

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

December 18, 1972: Wife and daughter killed in automobile accident

On December 18, 1972, 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.

September 23, 1987: Withdrawal from 1988 Presidential Race

On September 23, 1987, Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy from the 1988 presidential race due to plagiarism accusations and exaggerated claims about his early life.

February 1988: Surgery for Intracranial Berry Aneurysm

In February 1988, Joe Biden underwent surgery to correct a leaking intracranial berry aneurysm, followed by a pulmonary embolism during recuperation. He then underwent a second surgery in May.

1988: Unsuccessful Run for Democratic Presidential Nomination

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

1991: Opposed the Gulf War

In 1991, Joe Biden opposed the Gulf War, taking a stance against military intervention in the Middle East.

1991: Vote Against Authorization for the Gulf War

In 1991, Joe Biden voted against authorization for the Gulf War, marking a notable foreign policy stance.

1993: Alleged Sexual Assault by Tara Reade

In 1993, Tara Reade alleged that Joe Biden sexually assaulted her. This accusation resurfaced in March 2020, intensifying scrutiny of Biden's past behavior.

2002: Voted in Favor of Iraq War Resolution

In 2002, Joe Biden voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, a decision that would later be viewed with scrutiny.

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 that evening, due to lack of funding and support.

2008: Stocks Experience Worst Year Since 2008

In 2022, stocks experienced their worst year since 2008 before beginning to recover.

April 2009: Biden makes off-message remark on swine flu outbreak

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 and revived his reputation for gaffes.

July 2009: Biden acknowledges misreading of economy

In July 2009, amidst rising unemployment, Vice President Biden acknowledged that the Obama administration had "misread how bad the economy was", but maintained confidence in the stimulus package's job creation potential.

May 2011: Reports Suggest Biden Opposed Bin Laden Mission

In May 2011, some reports suggest that Joe Biden opposed proceeding with the U.S. mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

August 2012: Biden makes controversial remark

In August 2012, Joe Biden made a remark before a mixed-race audience that Republican proposals to relax Wall Street regulations would "put y'all back in chains", which drew attention to his propensity for colorful remarks.

October 2013: Biden cut out of debt-ceiling discussions

In October 2013, Joe Biden played little part in discussions that led to the passage of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, which resolved the federal government shutdown of 2013 and the debt-ceiling crisis of 2013.

2013: Robert Hur's report on Biden's memory

In 2013, as part of the investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents, special counsel Robert Hur noted that Biden did not remember when he was vice president or when his son Beau died, characterizing his memory as having "significant limitations".

2014: Record Deportations

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

2015: Beau Biden died of brain cancer

In 2015, Beau Biden, Joe Biden's son, died of brain cancer.

2015: Death of Beau Biden

Particularly since the 2015 death of his elder son Beau, Joe Biden has been noted for his empathetic nature and ability to communicate about grief.

September 2019: Trump pressures Zelenskyy to investigate Biden

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

2019: Accusations of Inappropriate Physical Contact

In 2019, eight women, including Tara Reade, accused Joe Biden of inappropriate physical contact.

March 2020: Tara Reade Accuses Biden of Sexual Assault

In late March 2020, Tara Reade, who had previously accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact in 2019, alleged that he sexually assaulted her in 1993. Biden and his campaign denied the allegations.

2020: Campaign Promise on Private Prisons

Despite his 2020 campaign promise to end the practice, 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.

January 6, 2021: Attack on the U.S. Capitol

On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol during the electoral vote count, disrupting the formalization of Biden's victory. Biden addressed the nation, condemning the events. Congress later certified Biden and Harris as the winners.

March 2021: Inflation Rate Above Federal Reserve Target

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

July 2021: Biden Urges Americans to Get Vaccinated

In July 2021, amid a slowdown in COVID-19 vaccination rates and the spread of the Delta variant, President Biden emphasized the critical importance of Americans getting vaccinated.

August 2021: Decline in Approval Rating

In August 2021, Joe Biden's approval rating began to decline due 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: Biden Revokes Trump's Security Clearance

In 2021, Joe Biden revoked Donald Trump's security clearance for his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol attack.

2021: Surge in Border Crossings

In 2021, illegal border crossings at the Mexico–United States border began to surge after President Biden assumed office.

2021: Inflation Surge Overshadows Biden's Presidency

The 2021 inflation surge overshadowed Joe Biden's presidency.

February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine and U.S. Response

In February 2022, the Russian Armed Forces, under the direction of President Vladimir Putin, launched an invasion of Ukraine. In response, President Biden imposed severe sanctions on Russia and authorized over $8 billion in weapons shipments to Ukraine after warning for several weeks that an attack was imminent.

June 2022: Inflation Peaked at 9.1%

In June 2022, inflation peaked at 9.1% during Biden's presidency, contributing to public frustration and declining approval ratings.

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

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

September 2022: Biden's Comments on Defending Taiwan

In a September 2022 interview with 60 Minutes, President Biden stated that U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of an "unprecedented attack" by China, deviating from the U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity". This statement, made after three previous similar comments, led to the Biden administration walking back his remarks and reaffirming that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remained unchanged.

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November 2022: Discovery of Classified Documents at Penn Biden Center

In November 2022, attorneys for President Biden discovered classified documents dating back to his time as vice president in a "locked closet" at the Penn Biden Center. These documents were reported to the U.S. National Archives and subsequently recovered the following day.

2022: Biden Blocks National Railroad Strike

In 2022, President Biden blocked a national railroad strike that was planned by multiple labor unions.

2022: Economic Slowdown and Recession Concerns in 2022

In 2022, real GDP growth cooled to 2.1% after 5.9% growth in 2021, with slightly negative growth in the first half sparking recession concerns. Job creation and consumer spending remained strong, while the unemployment rate matched a 53-year low of 3.5% in December.

January 11, 2023: House Investigation into Biden Family's Foreign Business Activities

On January 11, 2023, the House of Representatives launched an investigative committee into the foreign business activities of President Biden's son, Hunter, and his brother, James. Representative James Comer, the committee's chair, also investigated alleged corruption related to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.

February 4, 2023: Shooting Down of Suspected Chinese Surveillance Balloon

On February 4, 2023, under President Biden's orders, the United States Air Force shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The Chinese government claimed the balloon was a civilian airship blown off course, not a surveillance device. This incident led to Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponing his planned visit to China and further strained U.S.-China relations.

March 2023: Bank Failures and Biden's Response

In March 2023, three U.S. banks experienced failures, leading to a decline in global bank stock prices. President Biden opposed a taxpayer bailout, attributing the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023 to the partial rollback of Dodd-Frank regulations.

September 2023: Student Loan Pause Extended

In September 2023, President Biden extended the COVID-19 student loan pause. Additionally, an "on ramp" period extended protections against credit reporting, collection efforts, and late payment fees through September 30, 2024.

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: Domestic Oil Production Reached Record High

Despite Joe Biden's clean energy policies, domestic oil production reached a record high in October 2023.

October 2023: Deportations Increase

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

October 2023: Hamas Attack on Israel and U.S. Response

In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to intensified conflict. President Biden stated his strong support for Israel and condemned the attack, deploying aircraft carriers and requesting $14 billion in military aid to Israel. He later pressured Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and supported "humanitarian pauses" for aid delivery, while rejecting calls for a ceasefire. Biden also directed the U.S. military to help deliver humanitarian aid and asked Israel to pause its invasion of Gaza for at least three days to allow for hostage negotiations.

October 2023: Biden Administration Request for Additional Aid to Ukraine

In October 2023, the Biden administration requested an additional $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine for the upcoming year, facing delays in passage by the House of Representatives.

December 13, 2023: House Vote to Formalize Impeachment Inquiry

On December 13, 2023, the House of Representatives voted 221–212 to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, alleging corruption by him and his family.

December 2023: No Evidence of Wrongdoing Found

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

December 2023: Record High Border Crossings

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

2023: Lowest Approval Rating Among Modern U.S. Presidents

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

2023: Inflation Surge Overshadows Biden's Presidency

The 2021-2023 inflation surge overshadowed Joe Biden's presidency.

January 2024: Humanitarian Parole for Migrants

As of January 2024, over a million migrants had been admitted to the U.S. under humanitarian parole. This policy allowed migrants to fly into the U.S. or schedule their entries through official entry points on the U.S.-Mexico border.

January 2024: Support for Bipartisan Immigration Deal

In January 2024, President Biden expressed support for a proposed bipartisan immigration deal led by Senators Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford. The bill would have changed immigration law, including allowing the children of those with H-1B visas to get work authorizations and freezing their legal ages while waiting for green cards.

January 17, 2024: House Passes Resolution on Border Handling

On January 17, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a Republican-led non-binding resolution denouncing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the U.S. southern border by a vote of 225–187.

February 8, 2024: No Charges Against Biden in Classified Documents Case

On February 8, 2024, Special Counsel Robert K. Hur announced that no charges would be brought against President Biden regarding the handling of classified documents.

February 2024: Alexander Smirnov charged with making false statements

In February 2024, Alexander Smirnov, a former intelligence informant prominent in bribery allegations against Biden, was charged with making false statements. Smirnov admitted he had publicized a false story given to him by Russian intelligence officials with the goal of damaging Biden's reelection campaign.

February 29, 2024: Biden's Reaction to Killing of Palestinian Civilians

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. He also mentioned that the U.S. military began airdropping food aid into Gaza on March 3, which was later criticized by experts as performative and unlikely to alleviate the famine.

March 2024: Public Disapproval of Israeli Conduct

In March 2024, a Gallup poll revealed that a strong majority of Americans disapproved of Israeli conduct during the war in Gaza. This sentiment underscored significant domestic opposition to American involvement and support for Israel.

April 2024: Gaza War Protests on University Campuses

Beginning in April 2024, widespread protests against the Gaza war emerged on university campuses. The protests were used to denounce President Biden's policies and actions regarding the conflict.

May 2024: Limited Use of Weapons Against Russian Targets

In May 2024, President Biden granted an exception to the restriction preventing Ukraine from using U.S.-supplied weapons against Russian military targets. This exception was limited to targets in the vicinity of Kharkiv for "counter-fire" purposes, while maintaining the block on other weapons systems due to escalation concerns.

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

On May 31, 2024, President Biden announced his support for an Israeli ceasefire proposal, stating that Hamas was "no longer capable" of launching another large-scale attack. The proposal, which aimed to establish a permanent ceasefire, release all hostages, and reconstruct the Gaza Strip, received support from Hamas officials following mediation by Egypt and Qatar. However, the Netanyahu administration maintained that Israel's goals regarding "the destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities" remained unchanged.

June 2024: Biden Issues Executive Action on Immigration

In June 2024, President Biden issued an executive action offering amnesty to unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens, providing a pathway to U.S. residency and citizenship, initially affecting approximately 500,000 people. The action was later struck down.

June 2024: Executive Order on Border Restriction

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

June 2024: Media Coverage of Concerns About Biden's Mental Acuity

In June 2024, the media widely covered public concern about Joe Biden's mental acuity after a weak performance in a presidential debate. While Biden repeatedly asserted his fitness for two terms, he later acknowledged potential age-related limitations.

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 was widely criticized, with commentators noting he frequently lost his train of thought and gave meandering answers. The debate raised questions about his health and age, leading to calls for him to withdraw from the race.

July 2024: All-Time Low Approval Rating Just Before Withdrawal

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: Deportations Reach Highest Level Since 2014

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's 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.

October 2024: Biden Refuses to Block Port Strike

In October 2024, President Biden refused to block a port strike from the International Longshoremen's Association.

December 2024: 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.

December 2024: Biden pardoned Hunter Biden

In December 2024, Joe Biden pardoned Hunter Biden, following his conviction on gun and tax charges.

2024: Trump Defeats Harris in General Election

In 2024, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the general election. In a televised speech after the election, Joe Biden congratulated Trump and promised a peaceful transition of power.

2024: Kamala Harris's defeat in the 2024 presidential election

In 2024, Kamala Harris was defeated by Donald Trump in the presidential election.

2024: Biden's presidency deemed a failure

In 2024, according to Gallup, public perception of the economy was worse only in 2008 and 1992, helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election. Journalist Amy Walter argued that Biden's presidency was deemed a failure by the public, particularly due to frustration over inflation.

2024: Withdrew Candidacy for Reelection

In 2024, after a poor performance in the first presidential debate and renewed scrutiny about his cognitive ability, Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection.

2024: Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election

Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election was compared to Lyndon B. Johnson's withdrawal from the 1968 presidential election.

January 2025: Biden Claims He Could Have Defeated Trump

In January 2025, Joe Biden claimed he could have defeated Donald Trump had he not been persuaded to withdraw from the election, despite trailing Trump in polling.

January 2025: Biden Declares Equal Rights Amendment Ratified

In January 2025, President Biden declared the lapsed Equal Rights Amendment ratified as the "28th Amendment" to the Constitution. However, this declaration had no formal legal effect, and the National Archives did not intend to certify the amendment.

2025: Biden's Cognitive Health Perceived to Decline

As of 2025, Joe Biden was the oldest sitting president in U.S. history. There were perceptions, particularly among Republicans and some media figures, and privately by some Democrats, that his cognitive health was declining. His family and White House staffers worked to shield him from scrutiny regarding his aging and diminished acuity.

2025: Biden Leaves Office Amidst Criticism

When Joe Biden left office in 2025, journalists and even many Democrats viewed his presidency as a failure due to age and health concerns, public frustration over inflation, and Kamala Harris's defeat in the 2024 presidential election by Donald Trump.