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Joe Biden

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Joe Biden
Official portrait of Joe Biden as president of the United States
Official portrait, 2021
46th President of the United States
In office
January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025
Vice PresidentKamala Harris
Preceded byDonald Trump
Succeeded byDonald Trump
47th Vice President of the United States
In office
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byDick Cheney
Succeeded byMike Pence
United States Senator
from Delaware
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 15, 2009
Preceded byJ. Caleb Boggs
Succeeded byTed Kaufman
Personal details
Born
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.

(1942-11-20) November 20, 1942 (age 83)
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (since 1969)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (1968–1969)
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1966; died 1972)​
​
(m. 1977)​
Children
RelativesBiden family
ResidenceWilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Education
Occupation
  • politician
  • lawyer
  • author
AwardsFull list
SignatureCursive signature in ink
WebsitePresidential library
White House archives
Joe Biden's voice
Biden speaks on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul.
Recorded August 16, 2021
Other offices

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (/ˈbaɪdən/ (listenⓘ) BY-dən; born November 20, 1942), commonly known as Joe Biden, is an American politician and lawyer who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. He was also the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and a United States senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Delaware. He studied at the University of Delaware and Syracuse University.[1] In 1972, he was elected to the United States Senate at the age of 29. He was reelected six times and became chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.[2]

Biden ran for president in 1988 and 2008 but ended both campaigns before the election. In 2008, Barack Obama chose Biden as his running mate.[3] Obama and Biden won the 2008 election and were reelected in 2012.[4][5]

In 2020, Biden became the Democratic nominee for president.[6] He defeated Republican President Donald Trump in the November election and became president on January 20, 2021.[7] At age 78, he was the oldest person to become president at the time and the second Catholic president after John F. Kennedy.[8]

As president, Biden signed the American Rescue Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and signed a major infrastructure law.[9] He appointed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, making her the first Black woman to serve on the Court.[10] He also supported policies to fight climate change and rejoined the Paris Agreement after Trump had withdrawn the United States from it.[11]

Biden ended the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan in 2021.[12] The withdrawal was followed by the collapse of the Afghan government and the return of the Taliban to power. Biden was criticized for how the withdrawal was handled.[13]

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden responded by placing sanctions on Russia and providing military and economic aid to Ukraine.[14] After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Biden expressed support for Israel while also calling for humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza.[15]

Biden's presidency was also affected by high inflation and rising prices. His approval ratings were often low, and Republicans criticized his economic and immigration policies.[16]

In 2023, classified documents from Biden's time as vice president were found at his home and former office. Special Counsel Robert Hur investigated the matter but did not recommend criminal charges against Biden.[17]

2024 presidential election

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Biden announced his campaign for reelection in April 2023.[18] He became the Democratic nominee and was expected to face Donald Trump again.[19]

On June 27, 2024, Biden and Trump took part in a presidential debate.[20] Biden's performance was widely criticized, leading to concerns about his age and ability to serve another term. Several Democratic politicians and public figures called for him to leave the race.[21]

On July 21, 2024, Biden ended his campaign for reelection and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.[22] Harris later chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.[23] Harris lost the November election to Trump.[24]

Post-presidency

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Biden's presidency ended on January 20, 2025, when Donald Trump was inaugurated as president for a second term. Biden returned to his home state of Delaware and continued to make public appearances.[25]

In February 2025, Trump revoked Biden's security clearance. This followed Biden's decision in 2021 to revoke Trump's access to classified information after Trump left office.[26]

In May 2025, Biden's office announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.[27] He later received radiation treatment.[28]

Personal life

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Biden has four children and seven grandchildren.[29] His first wife, Neilia Hunter, and their daughter, Naomi, died in a car accident in 1972.[30] His sons Beau and Hunter survived the accident. Beau later became Attorney General of Delaware but died of brain cancer in 2015.[31]

Biden married his second wife, Jill Jacobs, in 1977.[32] They have one daughter, Ashley. Jill Biden was the first lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025 and is a former teacher.[33]

Biden is a Roman Catholic.[34] He does not drink alcohol.[35] He has had several health problems during his life, including brain aneurysms in 1988 and COVID-19 in 2022.[36]

Biden is one of the longest-serving politicians in American history. He spent more than 35 years in the Senate, served as vice president for eight years, and was president for four years.[37]

References

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  1. ↑ "Joseph R. Biden Jr". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Joseph Biden Jr. (D) | Freedom and Citizenship". freedomandcitizenship.columbia.edu. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Joe Biden: Campaigns and Elections | Miller Center". millercenter.org. January 19, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  4. ↑ Rushton, Simon. "Obama wins tight Democratic race - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  5. ↑ Hackman, Michelle; Li, Diana (November 6, 2012). "Obama wins four more years". Yale Daily News.
  6. ↑ "Biden officially clinches Democratic nomination for president". POLITICO. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ Martin, Jonathan; Burns, Alexander (November 7, 2020). "Biden Wins Presidency, Ending Four Tumultuous Years Under Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Joe Biden: America's second Catholic president". www.bbc.com. January 25, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  9. ↑ Sullivan, Kate (March 11, 2021). "Biden signs historic $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief law | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  10. ↑ Tapper, Jake; de Vogue, Ariane; Zeleny, Jeff; Klein, Betsy; Vazquez, Maegan (February 25, 2022). "Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to be first Black woman to sit on Supreme Court | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ Rot, Nathan (January 20, 2021). "Biden Moves To Have U.S. Rejoin Climate Accord". NPR. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  12. ↑ Moon Cronk, Terri. "Biden Announces Full U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan by Sept. 11".
  13. ↑ "US Republicans blame Biden in Afghanistan withdrawal report". www.bbc.com. September 9, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  14. ↑ Naylor, Brian; Ordoñez, Franco (February 24, 2022). "Biden announces new sanctions as Russia attacks Ukraine". NPR. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  15. ↑ Holland, Steve (October 18, 2023). "Biden offers Israelis support, Palestinians aid in Tel Aviv". Reuters.
  16. ↑ Morgan, David (November 1, 2021). "Republicans blame Biden for inflation, but are they right?". Reuters.
  17. ↑ "Biden won't be charged in classified docs case; special counsel cites instances of 'poor memory'". NBC News. February 9, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  18. ↑ Montanaro, Domenico; Keith, Tamara; Bustillo, Ximena (April 25, 2023). "Biden warns of rights under threat from Trump and 'MAGA extremists' in reelect launch". NPR. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  19. ↑ Miller, Zeke. "Biden clinches 2024 Democratic nomination". PBS. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  20. ↑ Butler, Megan (June 27, 2024). "Biden and Trump face off in first 2024 presidential debate". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  21. ↑ Miller, Zeke; Price, Michelle L.; Weissert, Will; Barrow, Bill; Superville, Darlene (June 28, 2024). "A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but sparks Democratic anxiety about his candidacy". The Associated Press. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  22. ↑ Mason, Jeff; Renshaw, Jarrett; Holland, Steve (July 21, 2021). "Biden ends failing reelection campaign, backs Harris as nominee". Reuters.
  23. ↑ John King, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, MJ Lee, Daniel Strauss, Gregory Krieg, Kristen Holmes, Betsy Klein (August 6, 2024). "Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ↑ Megerian, Chris; Superville, Darlene; Brown, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Harris says nation must accept election results while urging supporters to keep fighting". AP News. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  25. ↑ Wootson Jr, Cleve R. (July 26, 2026). "The shrinking world of former president Joe Biden". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  26. ↑ Moore, Elena (February 7, 2025). "Trump says he is revoking Biden's security clearances". NPR. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  27. ↑ Wolfe, Jan (August 8, 2026). "Ex-President Joe Biden's cancer has spread, is very painful, son says". Reuters.
  28. ↑ Lukiv, Jaroslav (October 11, 2025). "Joe Biden receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer, spokesman says". www.bbc.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  29. ↑ Saenz, Kevin Liptak,Arlette (July 28, 2023). "Bidens publicly acknowledge their seventh grandchild for the first time | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 18, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ Editors, HISTORY com (June 2, 2023). "Joe Biden loses first wife and daughter in tragic car accident | December 18, 1972". HISTORY. Retrieved August 18, 2026. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  31. ↑ "socialHeadline". POLITICO. May 31, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  32. ↑ "The Office of Joe and Jill Biden". a7960553.biden-post-wh.pages.dev. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  33. ↑ Superville, Darlene (December 17, 2024). "Jill Biden says she has closed the book on teaching at Northern Virginia Community College". AP News. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  34. ↑ Mitchell, Travis (March 30, 2021). "Most Democrats and Republicans Know Biden Is Catholic, but They Differ Sharply About How Religious He Is". Pew Research Center. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  35. ↑ Nagourney, Adam (October 30, 2020). "In Trump and Biden, a Choice of Teetotalers for President". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Joe Biden's health timeline: From brain aneurysms to prostate cancer diagnosis in 2025". The Economic Times. May 21, 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Joe Biden: Life in Brief | Miller Center". millercenter.org. January 19, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2026.

Other websites

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  1. ↑ Biden held the chairmanship from January 3 to 20, then was succeeded by Jesse Helms until June 6, and thereafter held the position until 2003.
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