What are the most common criticisms of Biden from both political parties and independent analysts?

1. “Is he fit to lead?” — Age and public performance dominate conservative and intraparty attacks

Republicans and many commentators repeatedly framed Biden’s age and health as central criticisms: reporting in late 2024 and 2025 highlighted episodes described as “faltering” and “shaky,” and later GOP oversight reports alleged a cover-up of cognitive decline—claims Democrats say are unproven but which have driven bipartisan attention to his fitness ^{[4] [5] [6]}. High-profile gaffes and viral mispronunciations amplified the narrative among critics, who seized such moments as proof of diminished capacity; supporters point to lifelong stutter and medical explanations, but the political effect is clear in sustained negative coverage ^{[7] [5]}.

2. Economic criticism: inflation, affordability and voter backlash

Conservative analyses and some independent commentators blame Biden-era policies for a cost-of-living crisis: critics link post‑pandemic stimulus, inflation spikes, high mortgage and rent costs, and higher energy prices to an “affordability” argument that cost voters support in 2024 and shaped later politics ^{[8] [9] [10]}. Fact-checking and administration fact sheets dispute simplified causation and highlight gains such as ACA enrollment and job recovery, but polling shows economic pain remains a leading source of public discontent used by opponents ^{[8] [11] [3]}.

3. Immigration and border management: blame from right and frustrated moderates

Reporting by The New York Times and other outlets described internal warnings within the administration about border surges and choices to avoid some enforcement measures; critics say advisers “ignored early warnings” and rejected policies that might have eased the crisis, turning immigration into a bipartisan political liability ^[12]. Republicans argue Biden prioritized other priorities abroad (notably Ukraine) over domestic border security; outlets on both sides note the political costs to Democrats as well ^{[12] [13]}.

4. Foreign policy: too cautious on Ukraine, or inconsistent leadership?

Some lawmakers and analysts accused Biden of “debiliating hesitation” in the early Ukraine war—delays in providing certain weapons, constraints on Ukrainian strikes, and calls for faster, tougher aid and sanctions were central critiques from hawkish Republicans and some foreign‑policy voices ^{[14] [15]}. Other sources credit the administration with rallying billions in aid and restoring alliances, showing that foreign‑policy judgments split along strategic and partisan lines ^{[14] [16]}.

5. Ethics, management and political damage from family and personnel decisions

Republicans and oversight committees scrutinized Biden for a sweeping pardon for his son and for alleged concealment by aides and physicians—accusations framed as evidence of managerial failure or worse; House reports labeled the presidency “autopen” and alleged deception, while Democrats call these politically motivated and lacking proof ^{[17] [18] [5]}. These controversies deepened intra‑party frustration and fed narratives used by opponents ^{[17] [19]}.

6. Partisan context and independent skepticism: polling paints the political landscape

Surveys from Pew and Gallup show entrenched partisan splits—nearly all Republicans disapprove while Democratic approval is lower than early in his term—and a majority of independents surveyed in 2025 expected Biden’s presidency to be judged negatively by history, reflecting cross‑cutting dissatisfaction that both parties and independent analysts cite ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Analysts note Democrats’ own debates about whether his candidacy and public appearances cost the party politically ^[6].

7. Two-sided arguments and limits of the record

Supporters point to pandemic recovery actions, expanded ACA enrollment, alliance rebuilding, and large aid packages for Ukraine as proof of substantive achievements ^{[11] [16] [14]}. Critics counter with economic grievances, border crises, and perceived leadership shortfalls. Available sources do not mention definitive legal proof that Biden was incapacitated in office; Republican reports allege concealment but, per reporting, offer contested evidence and fierce partisan disagreement ^{[5] [18]}.

8. What this means politically going forward

The criticisms from both parties and independents converged on a political fact: Biden became a focal point for broader unease about governance, with opponents weaponizing health, policy outcomes, and scandals while some Democrats privately faulted his decision‑making for electoral losses; the cumulative effect reshaped messaging and created openings exploited by opponents ^{[19] [6] [20]}.

Limitations: this summary relies on the supplied reporting and polls; some claims (for example, causal weights of specific policies on inflation or electoral outcomes) are contested across sources and cannot be definitively settled here ^{[8] [9] [3]}.