Palmetto Observation: The End of the Biden Era
"My brother Bob doesn't want to be in government - he promised Dad he'd go straight."
- President John F. Kennedy
Today marks the final full day of the Biden administration. At noon tomorrow, a new government will take over, bringing an end to a presidency that, for many, may be remembered as a footnote in history. Biden’s term feels like it will go down as largely forgettable—a one-term president sandwiched between Trump’s two terms. If history tells us anything, this isn’t unprecedented. Benjamin Harrison’s presidency sat between Grover Cleveland’s two terms, and most people remember Cleveland far more than Harrison.
Biden leaves office with a 37% approval rating—lower than Trump’s was at the end of his first term, even after January 6th. It’s a symbolic final blow in what feels like a presidency full of setbacks. And yet, it’s worth remembering how different things were when he first took office. Back then, there was hope, even optimism. Biden entered the White House with a 53.1% approval rating and just 30.2% disapproval, according to 538—a positive spread of 23 points.
But the cracks started to show early. Many point to the Afghanistan withdrawal as the defining event of Biden’s presidency, and while it certainly left a mark, the truth is his approval ratings had already begun slipping. By July 2021, that 23-point gap had shrunk by half. In early August, his approval dipped below 50% for the last time. By September, disapproval had overtaken approval entirely. Afghanistan may have been the flashpoint, but the foundation had been eroding long before.
Despite this, there were moments of resilience. In 2022, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn *Roe v. Wade* gave Biden a temporary boost. His approval ratings climbed, and the gap between approval and disapproval narrowed to less than 10 points. It felt like a turning point—proof that Biden could rally support when it mattered. But it didn’t last.
The summer of 2023, in my view, marked the beginning of the end. Approval ratings started slipping again, steadily widening the gap. Then came the Israel-Gaza war in October, which fractured the Democratic base and alienated key groups within the party. By the time the 2024 campaign season ramped up, Biden was fighting an uphill battle, and the doubts about his mental fitness became impossible to ignore.
The defining moment of the 2024 campaign was that disastrous debate. It was Biden’s chance to prove the critics wrong, to show he still had the energy and sharpness to lead. Instead, he fumbled, and from that point on, his presidency felt more like a lame-duck administration. He seemed to fade into the background, leaving much of the heavy lifting to his staff. It was as if he’d already checked out, content with the fact that he’d achieved the title of President—a spot in history, no matter how unremarkable.
There are rumors Biden aspired to be like LBJ—a liberal leader who passed sweeping, transformative legislation. And while the comparison is fitting, it’s probably not for the reasons Biden would hope. Like LBJ, his presidency was marred by foreign policy failures and a collapse in public support, ultimately leaving him sidelined by his own party.
So, how will history remember Joe Biden? Honestly, probably not very vividly. His story is one of persistence—a man who spent decades in government and finally climbed to the highest office in the land. But in the end, his presidency lacked the impact or legacy to make it truly memorable.
For me, it’s been fascinating to watch. I’ve followed Biden’s political comeback since 2019, and now, as we close the book on his presidency, I doubt we’ll see much of him moving forward. He’ll likely retire to Delaware, living out his remaining years quietly.