Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Joe Biden

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

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

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.

1975: Murder of FBI agents

In 1975, FBI agents were murdered and Leonard Peltier was convicted for those murders. Biden commuted Peltier's sentence to house arrest in December 2024.

1976: Use of Hubert Humphrey Passage

In 1976 Joe Biden used a passage by Hubert Humphrey.

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.

1977: Co-sponsored Amendment Closing Loopholes in Busing Measure

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

1978: Carter Signed Amendment into Law

In 1978, President Carter signed the amendment that Joe Biden co-sponsored into law.

1988: Robert Bork Nomination Hearings

In 1988, as chair, Joe Biden presided over the contentious U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork. Biden reversed his approval of a hypothetical Bork nomination. Bork's nomination was rejected in the committee by a 5–9 vote and then in the full Senate, 42–58.

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.

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.

October 2002: Vote in Favor of Iraq War Authorization

In October 2002, Joe 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.

2005: Calling Iraq War Vote a Mistake

By 2005, Joe Biden called his 2002 vote for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq a "mistake", but did not push for withdrawal.

2005: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

In 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act passed, with Joe Biden being one of only 18 Democrats to vote for it, while leading Democrats and consumer rights organizations opposed it.

2006: Shift in Stance on Iraq War

By late 2006, Joe Biden's stance on the Iraq War had shifted considerably.

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.

March 23, 2010: Hot Mic Incident

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".

August 2012: Remark on Wall Street Regulations

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

2014: Biden's Exaggerations Noted by The New Yorker

In 2014, The New Yorker noted Joe Biden's tendency to embellish elements of his life or exaggerate his experiences.

2014: Federal offenses

In December 2024, Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to his son Hunter that covered all federal offenses between that day and 2014.

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.

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.

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.

February 2021: Ending Support for Saudi-led Bombing Campaign

In February 2021, the Biden administration announced the United States was ending its support for the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen and revoked the designation of Yemen's Houthis as terrorists.

2021: Immigration Policies

In 2021, Biden unveiled the U.S. Citizenship Act and moved to dismantle several Trump-era policies, including halting border wall construction and ending the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries.

2021: Surge in Illegal Border Crossings

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

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, contrasting with the U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity".

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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.

2022: Biden Blocks Railroad Strike

In 2022, Joe Biden blocked a national railroad strike planned by multiple labor unions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: Pledge Not to Pardon Hunter Biden

In June 2024, Biden pledged not to pardon his son Hunter.

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.

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.

October 2024: Biden Refuses to Block Port Strike

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

December 1, 2024: Pardon for Hunter Biden

On December 1, 2024, Biden issued a "full and unconditional" pardon to his son Hunter that covered all federal offenses between that day and 2014, breaking his June 2024 pledge not to do so.

December 2024: Clemency Act

In December 2024, Biden granted clemency to about 1,500 nonviolent felons in home confinement.

December 2024: Biden Pardoned Hunter

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

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.