Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Joe Biden

Public opinion and media debates around Joe Biden—discover key moments of controversy.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. served as the 46th U.S. President (2021-2025). A Democrat, he previously served as the 47th Vice President under Barack Obama (2009-2017). Before becoming Vice President, Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, from 1973 to 2009.

Sections (7)

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

1976: Supported Measure Forbidding Federal Funds for Busing

In 1976, Joe Biden supported a measure forbidding the use of federal funds for transporting students beyond the school closest to them.

1976: Used Hubert Humphrey passage

Two years earlier before August 1987, during his 1988 presidential campaign, Biden had used a 1976 passage by Hubert Humphrey in a speech.

1977: Co-sponsored amendment closing busing loopholes

In 1977, Joe Biden co-sponsored an amendment closing loopholes in the measure forbidding the use of federal funds for transporting students beyond the school closest to them.

1978: President Carter signed busing amendment into law

In 1978, the amendment closing loopholes in the measure forbidding the use of federal funds for transporting students beyond the school closest to them, which Joe Biden co-sponsored, was signed into law by President Carter.

1988: Presided over Robert Bork's Supreme Court confirmation hearings

In 1988, as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Biden presided over the contentious U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Robert Bork. Biden reversed his previous approval of Bork, objecting to Bork's originalism and the view that the U.S. Constitution provides rights to liberty and privacy beyond those explicitly enumerated in its text. Bork's nomination was rejected.

1991: Clarence Thomas Nomination Hearings

During Clarence Thomas's nomination hearings in 1991, Biden faced criticism for his handling of Anita Hill's accusations against Thomas. He allowed Hill to testify, but did not permit testimony from other witnesses. Thomas was confirmed by the Senate, with Biden opposed. Liberal legal advocates and women's groups felt Biden mishandled the hearings.

1992: Public Perception of Economy Similar to 2024

According to Gallup, public perception of the economy in 2024 was worse only in 2008 and 1992, helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election.

1993: Voted for provision banning gay people from serving in the armed forces

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: Tara Reade alleges assault by Biden

In 1993, Tara Reade alleges she was sexually assaulted by Joe Biden.

1994: Helped pass the 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.

1996: Voted for the 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.

October 2002: Voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq

In October 2002, Biden, as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, approving the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He assembled witnesses to testify in favor of the authorization, who misrepresented the intent, history, and status of Saddam and his government.

2005: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act Passed

In 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which Biden supported, passed. He was one of only 18 Democrats to vote for it, despite opposition from leading Democrats and consumer rights organizations. The original version of the bill was vetoed in 2000.

2008: Public Perception of Economy Similar to 2024

According to Gallup, public perception of the economy in 2024 was worse only in 2008 and 1992, helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election.

April 2009: Biden's swine flu outbreak response leads to White House retraction

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

March 23, 2010: Hot mic picks up Biden's remark

On March 23, 2010, a hot mic picked up Joe Biden telling Barack Obama that his signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was "a big fucking deal".

May 2011: Biden possibly opposed mission to kill Osama bin Laden

In May 2011, some reports suggest that Joe Biden opposed proceeding with the U.S. mission to kill Osama bin Laden, lest failure adversely affect Obama's reelection prospects.

May 2012: Comfortable with same-sex marriage

Biden's May 2012 statement that he was "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex marriage gained considerable public attention in comparison to Obama's position. Biden made his statement without administration consent, and Obama and his aides were irked, since Obama had planned to shift position in the build-up to the party convention. Within days, Obama announced that he too supported same-sex marriage.

August 2012: Remark during reelection campaign

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

2014: The New Yorker Notes Biden's Exaggerations

According to The New York Times, Biden often embellishes elements of his life or exaggerates, a trait also noted by The New Yorker in 2014.

2014: Hunter Biden Joins Burisma

It has been alleged that Hunter Biden's job was essentially to trade on the family name and sell his access to dad since 2014 when he joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

2014: Beginning of Pardon Coverage

On December 1, 2024, President Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to Hunter Biden that covered all federal offenses between 2014 and December 1, 2024.

2014: Pardons cover family members and high-profile figures

On his last day in office, President Biden issued pardons for more of his family members and other high-profile figures covering federal offenses committed or may have committed between 2014 and the day of the pardon.

2015: Obergefell v. Hodges decision

In 2015, the Defense of Marriage Act, which Joe Biden voted for in 1996, was ruled unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges.

March 2019: Women accuse Biden of inappropriate physical contact

In March 2019, eight women accused Joe Biden of inappropriate physical contact.

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: Regretted treatment of Anita Hill

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

2019: Tara Reade accuses Biden of inappropriate physical contact

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

March 2020: Tara Reade accuses Biden of sexual assault

In late March 2020, Tara Reade accused Joe Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.

2020: Campaign Promise on Private Prisons

Despite a 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.

2020: Biden targeted by Trump

In 2020, Joe Biden was a frequent target of Donald Trump.

January 6, 2021: Trump's Supporters March to the Capitol

On January 6, 2021, Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol while Congress was in session to formalize Biden's victory, leading to hundreds storming the building. During the attack on January 6, 2021, Biden addressed the nation, condemning the events.

August 2021: Biden's Approval Rating Begins to Decline

In August 2021, Biden's approval rating began to decline, reaching the low forties by December due to events like the Afghanistan withdrawal.

2021: Biden Revokes Trump's Security Clearance

On February 7, 2025, Donald Trump revoked Biden's security clearance, ending his access to classified information. In 2021, Biden revoked Trump's security clearance for his role in inciting the January 6 Capitol attack.

September 2, 2022: Biden's Speech on the Soul of the Nation

On September 2, 2022, President 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", which drew criticism.

November 2022: Classified Documents Found at Penn Biden Center

In November 2022, Biden's attorneys found classified documents dating from his vice presidency in a "locked closet" at the Penn Biden Center.

January 11, 2023: House Launches Investigative Committee into Biden's Family Business Activities

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

September 2023: COVID-19 Student Loan Pause Extended

President Biden extended the COVID-19 student loan pause through September 2023, with an "on ramp" period that extended some protections through September 30, 2024.

October 2023: Biden's Approval Rating Among Democrats Reaches Record Low

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

October 2023: Domestic Oil Production Reaches Record High

Despite his clean energy policies and congressional Republicans characterizing them as a "War on American Energy", domestic oil production reached a record high in October 2023.

October 2023: Biden Responds to Hamas Attack on Israel

In October 2023, following Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, Biden stated his unequivocal support for Israel, condemned the attack, deployed aircraft carriers, and called for additional military aid. He also later pressured Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

December 13, 2023: House Formalizes Impeachment Inquiry into Biden

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

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

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

2023: Biden's Approval Rating Lowest of Modern Presidents

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

January 17, 2024: House Passes Resolution Denouncing Border Policy

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 with some Democratic support.

February 2024: Informant in Bribery Allegations Against Biden Charged with Making False Statements

In February 2024, Alexander Smirnov, a former intelligence informant who was prominent in the bribery allegations against Biden, was charged with making false statements.

February 29, 2024: Biden Comments on Aid to Gaza After Civilian Killings

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

March 2024: Gallup Poll Shows Disapproval of Israeli Conduct

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

April 2024: Gaza War Protests Emerge on University Campuses

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

May 2024: Biden Continues to Support Israel Amid Domestic Opposition

As of May 2024, Biden has continued to support Israel during the course of the war despite significant domestic opposition to American involvement and subsequent widespread protests.

June 2024: Biden Issues Executive Action on Immigration

In June 2024, Biden issued an executive action offering amnesty to unauthorized immigrants married to American citizens, including a pathway to residency and citizenship, initially affecting about 500,000 people. The program 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 Covers Concern About Biden's Mental Acuity After Debate

The media widely covered public concern about Biden's mental acuity after a weak performance in a June 2024 presidential debate.

June 27, 2024: First Presidential Debate

On June 27, 2024, the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump occurred, with Biden's performance being widely criticized. Commentators noted that he frequently lost his train of thought, and his answers were meandering. Several newspaper columnists declared Trump the winner, and polling indicated the majority of viewers believed Trump won the debate.

July 2024: Biden's Approval Rating Falls to All-Time Low

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

September 25, 2024: House Condemns 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.

September 30, 2024: Extension of COVID-19 Student Loan Pause

Biden extended the COVID-19 student loan pause through September 2023, with an "on ramp" period that extended some of the pause's protections against credit reporting, collection efforts, and late payment fees through September 30, 2024.

December 1, 2024: Pardon to Hunter Biden

On December 1, 2024, President Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to Hunter Biden, covering all federal offenses between 2014 and December 1, 2024.

December 12, 2024: Clemency for Nonviolent Felons

On December 12, 2024, President Biden granted clemency to about 1,500 nonviolent felons in home confinement, marking the largest single-day clemency act in history. This act generated controversy because it included felons such as Michael Conahan and Rita Crundwell.

December 2024: Biden pardoned Hunter Biden

In December 2024, Biden pardoned Hunter Biden following his conviction on gun and tax charges despite repeated promises that he would not do so.

2024: Public Deems Biden's Presidency a Failure

In 2024, journalist Amy Walter argued that Biden's presidency was deemed a failure by the public, particularly due to frustration over inflation, which helped Trump win the 2024 presidential election.

January 2025: Biden's Final Approval Rating

Biden's final approval rating in January 2025 was 40%, which was low but still higher than several other presidents' final approval ratings.

January 2025: Biden Declares ERA Ratified

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