Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Joe Biden
Public opinion and media debates around Joe Biden—discover key moments of controversy.
Joe Biden, a prominent figure in American politics, served as the 46th President of the United States (2021-2025). As a Democrat, he previously held the position of the 47th Vice President under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Prior to his executive roles, Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for over three decades, from 1973 to 2009, marking a long career in public service.
1976: Used Passage by Hubert Humphrey
Biden used passage by Hubert Humphrey in 1976.
1988: Robert Bork Nomination Hearings
In 1988, as chair, Biden presided over the contentious U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Robert Bork. Biden reversed his prior approval of a hypothetical Bork nomination and framed his objections in terms of constitutional rights to liberty and privacy. Ultimately, Bork's nomination was rejected.
1991: Clarence Thomas Nomination Hearings
In 1991, Biden oversaw the Clarence Thomas nomination hearings. Following the committee hearing, Anita Hill accused Thomas of sexual comments. Hill testified, but Biden did not permit testimony from other witnesses. Thomas was confirmed.
1991: Vote Against Gulf War Authorization
In 1991, Biden voted against authorizing military action in the Gulf War. This decision reflects his stance on U.S. military involvement in the Middle East at that time.
1993: Vote on Homosexuality in Military
In 1993, Biden voted for a provision that deemed homosexuality incompatible with military life, effectively banning gay people from serving in the armed forces. This decision reflects a stance from that period on LGBTQ+ rights.
1993: Sexual Assault Allegation
In March 2020, Tara Reade, accused Joe Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.
1996: Defense of Marriage Act Vote
In 1996, Biden voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibited the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. This act barred people in such marriages from equal protection under federal law and allowed states to do the same. This vote is a key moment in the history of LGBTQ+ rights legislation.
October 2002: Vote for Iraq War Authorization
In October 2002, Biden voted in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, approving the U.S. invasion of Iraq. As chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he assembled witnesses who misrepresented the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. Biden later called his role a "mistake".
2005: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention Act
In 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act passed, with Biden being one of only 18 Democrats to vote for it, while leading Democrats and consumer rights organizations opposed it. This act represented a significant change in bankruptcy law.
April 2009: Swine Flu Gaffe
In April 2009, an off-message response by Joe Biden during the swine flu outbreak led to a swift retraction by the White House and revived his reputation for gaffes.
August 2012: Remarks on Wall Street Regulations
In August 2012, Biden remarked before a mixed-race audience that Republican proposals to relax Wall Street regulations would "put y'all back in chains". This drew attention to Biden's propensity for colorful remarks during the reelection campaign.
September 11, 2012: Benghazi Attack Response
On September 11, 2012, Vice President Biden's response to an attack by Paul Ryan regarding the administration's handling of the September 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi led to his popularization of the phrase "a bunch of malarkey".
January 1, 2014: Start Date for Hunter Biden Pardon Coverage
On December 1, 2024, Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to Hunter Biden covering all federal offenses between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
March 2019: Accusations of Inappropriate Physical Contact
In March 2019, several women accused Joe Biden of inappropriate physical contact.
April 2019: Pledge to Respect Personal Space
In April 2019, Joe Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space" after accusations of inappropriate physical contact.
September 2019: Trump's Pressure on Ukraine
In September 2019, it was reported that President Trump had pressured Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate alleged wrongdoing by Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, leading to Trump's impeachment.
2019: Regret over Anita Hill Treatment
In 2019, Biden told Anita Hill he regretted his handling of her testimony during the 1991 Clarence Thomas hearings. Hill, however, expressed that she remained unsatisfied with his apology.
2019: Accusations of Inappropriate Physical Contact
In March 2020, Tara Reade, one of the eight women who in 2019 had accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, accused Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.
March 2020: Sexual Assault Accusation
In late March 2020, Tara Reade, accused Joe Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.
January 6, 2021: Capitol Attack and Election Certification
On January 6, 2021, during the electoral vote count, Trump told supporters to march to the Capitol, after which some supporters attacked the Capitol. Biden addressed the nation, calling the events "an unprecedented assault". Congress later certified Biden and Harris as the winners.
September 2, 2022: Biden's "Battle for the Soul of the Nation" Speech
On September 2, 2022, Biden delivered a nationally broadcast speech in Philadelphia, calling for a "battle for the soul of the nation".
September 2022: Biden states U.S. forces would defend Taiwan
In September 2022, President Biden stated in an interview that U.S. forces would defend Taiwan in the event of an "unprecedented attack" by China, a statement that contrasted with the U.S.'s policy of "strategic ambiguity" towards Taiwan. This September 2022 statement followed three previous comments by Biden that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion, leading his administration to repeatedly walk back the statements.
November 2, 2022: Classified documents found at Penn Biden Center
On November 2, 2022, attorneys for President Biden discovered 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 that same day, and were recovered the next day, leading to further investigation.
2022: Blocking National Railroad Strike
In 2022, Biden blocked a national railroad strike planned by multiple labor unions.
January 9, 2023: News breaks of investigation into classified documents
On January 9, 2023, news broke about the investigation led by U.S. attorney John R. Lausch Jr. into the classified documents found at the Penn Biden Center, following an article published by CBS News. The investigation led to further scrutiny of Biden's handling of classified materials.
January 11, 2023: House launches investigative committee into Biden family business activities
On January 11, 2023, the House of Representatives established an investigative committee to probe into the foreign business activities of President Biden's son, Hunter, and his brother, James. The committee, led by Representative James Comer, also investigated alleged corruption related to the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.
October 2023: Domestic Oil Production Reached Record High
Despite 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 voices support for Israel after Hamas attack
In October 2023, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, President Biden affirmed his strong support for Israel and condemned Hamas's actions. He deployed aircraft carriers to the region, requested $14 billion in military aid for Israel, and later urged Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While rejecting calls for a ceasefire, Biden supported humanitarian pauses and facilitated aid delivery to Palestinians.
December 13, 2023: House formalizes impeachment inquiry against Biden
On December 13, 2023, the House of Representatives voted 221–212 to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, initiated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, based on allegations of corruption involving Biden and his family. However, congressional investigations had, as of December 2023, found no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden.
December 2023: House investigations discover no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden
As of December 2023, Congressional investigations, most notably by the House Oversight committee, have discovered no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden, despite an ongoing impeachment inquiry.
February 8, 2024: Special counsel concludes investigation, no charges for Biden
On February 8, 2024, Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded his investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents and announced that no charges would be brought against him. This concluded a period of intense scrutiny and legal examination.
February 2024: Informant in Biden bribery allegations charged with making false statements
In February 2024, Alexander Smirnov, a former intelligence informant who played a significant role in the bribery allegations against President Biden, was charged with making false statements to the FBI. Smirnov admitted to publicizing a false story provided by Russian intelligence with the intent to damage Biden's re-election campaign.
February 29, 2024: Biden acknowledges insufficient aid to Gaza after civilian deaths
Following the killing of Palestinian civilians receiving food aid on February 29, 2024, President Biden stated that the level of aid reaching Gaza was insufficient, leading to increased pressure for more humanitarian assistance.
March 2024: Gallup poll reveals strong disapproval of Israeli actions in Gaza
A March 2024 Gallup poll indicated that a majority of Americans disapproved of Israel's military actions in Gaza, with 55% expressing disapproval and younger Americans showing significantly less support for Israel than older generations.
April 2024: Gaza war protests emerge on university campuses
Beginning in April 2024, widespread protests related to the Gaza war began on university campuses, with protestors denouncing President Biden's approach to the conflict.
May 2024: Biden continues support for Israel amidst domestic opposition
As of May 2024, President Biden continued to support Israel during the war, despite increasing domestic opposition and widespread protests. Public disapproval of Israeli conduct in Gaza was strong, particularly among young Americans. Protests emerged on university campuses in April 2024 denouncing Biden's stance on the conflict.
May 31, 2024: Biden announces 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 a large-scale attack. The proposal aimed to establish a permanent ceasefire, release all hostages, and reconstruct Gaza. While Hamas officials supported the proposal, the Netanyahu administration indicated that Israel's goals regarding Hamas had not changed and that conditions would need to be met before agreeing to a ceasefire.
June 2024: Media amplifies concerns about Biden's mental acuity after debate
After a perceived weak performance in a June 2024 presidential debate, concerns about President Biden's mental acuity were amplified by the media, leading to increased scrutiny of his fitness for office. Special counsel Robert Hur, in his report, suggested Biden could be seen as an "elderly man with poor memory."
June 2024: 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. It was later struck down.
June 27, 2024: First presidential debate held between Biden and Trump
On June 27, 2024, the first presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump took place. Biden's performance was widely criticized for meandering answers, leading to questions about his health and age and calls for him to withdraw from the race.
October 2024: Refusal to Block Port Strike
In October 2024, Biden refused to block a port strike from the International Longshoremen's Association.
December 1, 2024: Biden Pardons Hunter Biden
On December 1, 2024, Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to Hunter Biden covering all federal offenses between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024.
December 12, 2024: Biden Grants Clemency to Nonviolent Felons
On December 12, 2024, Biden granted clemency to about 1,500 nonviolent felons in home confinement, marking the largest single-day clemency act in history.
December 2024: Pardoned Hunter Biden
In December 2024, Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden following his conviction on gun and tax charges, despite repeated promises that he would not do so.
January 2025: Equal Rights Amendment Declaration
In January 2025, Biden declared the lapsed Equal Rights Amendment ratified as the "28th Amendment" to the constitution. The declaration has no formal effect.
February 7, 2025: Trump Revokes Biden's Security Clearance
On February 7, 2025, Donald Trump revoked Joe Biden's security clearance, ending his access to classified information as part of a broader review of security clearances for former officials.
