Biden’s Farewell Attempts to Shape His Legacy Likely to Fail; What Could Improve His Public Image? “`

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President Joe Biden is in his final week in office, and he’s about to see how little his long career with the Democratic Party counts once he’s no longer in power. 

As his presidency ends, Biden’s approval rating is extremely low, rivaling that of Jimmy Carter. (It’s notable that Biden recently eulogized Carter, a fellow one-term Democrat who left office due to public dissatisfaction.) Biden’s planned final foreign trip to Italy and Vatican City was canceled due to events in California. He’s scheduled to give two farewell speeches, beginning Monday evening, but these are unlikely to significantly improve his standing with his party’s base.

The numbers tell the story. Only 37% of Americans approve of Biden’s performance, slightly better than Carter’s final approval rating but far below his initial 53% approval. According to FiveThirtyEight, the AP-NORC poll shows Biden with 39% approval, including just 72% of Democrats—a significant drop from the 97% he enjoyed initially. Over half of Democrats feel they’re no better or even worse off since Biden took office. In short, the Democratic Party, and Biden himself, are viewed as largely irrelevant in Washington.

Since the election, there’s been widespread criticism of Biden’s decisions, particularly following the 2022 midterms, where Democrats performed better than expected, raising hopes of retaining the White House in 2024. Biden’s assertion that he would seek reelection now seems unrealistic, though he maintains otherwise. In a recent interview, Biden stated he believes he would have defeated Trump.

“It’s presumptuous to say that, but I think yes,” Biden told USA Today in his only print exit interview.

This stubbornness has further eroded his support within the party. His decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, placed Democrats in a difficult position, having to advocate for equal treatment under the law for Trump while simultaneously defending Biden’s action. His awarding of top civilian honors to figures like George Soros and Hillary Clinton drew sharp criticism from the right, and bipartisan efforts to honor the late George Romney had little impact. (He received better reviews for commuting some federal death sentences.)

On Monday, Biden will deliver the first of two farewell addresses. The first, at the State Department, will focus on what his administration considers foreign policy successes. (His Democratic critics point to the Afghanistan withdrawal, ongoing Middle East conflicts, the war in Ukraine, and China’s growing power.) Given Biden’s extensive experience in foreign policy, this is a logical and easily communicable aspect of his legacy.

Biden will then give a more traditional farewell address from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, before leaving Washington for Delaware next Monday.

Public fatigue with outgoing presidents is common. Even some Democrats were weary by the time Obama left office, a sentiment partly fueled by Hillary Clinton’s loss to Trump. George W. Bush’s final months were overshadowed by the financial crisis, and even he prioritized a legacy trip to Africa over attending the Republican convention. Bill Clinton left office relatively popular, but his relationship with Al Gore was strained as Gore unsuccessfully sought to keep the White House for Democrats.

However, Biden’s situation is worse, according to polling data. The public’s disapproval is partly due to Democrats blaming him for another Trump presidency. Even loyal supporters are unenthusiastic about celebrating his accomplishments. While White House staff argue that Biden’s legislative achievements surpass those of his predecessors, public perception is not easily swayed by facts. Trump’s success, Obama’s message of hope, and Bush’s image of decency all show the power of public sentiment in elections.

Despite this, Biden shouldn’t be discouraged: none of his immediate predecessors saw their reputations remain unchanged after leaving office.

This—more than any carefully crafted speeches—should offer Biden comfort. While his approval ratings are historically low, there’s potential for improvement, and often quickly. Gallup’s post-presidency surveys show significant shifts: Reagan, Carter, and George H.W. Bush all saw double-digit increases in their approval ratings after leaving office. Perhaps after some time away, the public will reassess Biden—though it won’t change the outcome of the election. Snap judgments are sometimes inaccurate.

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