Joe Biden

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is an American politician who served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025. A Democrat, he previously served as the 47th Vice President under Barack Obama (2009–2017) and as U.S. Senator from Delaware for 36 years (1973–2009), making him one of the longest-serving senators in U.S. history at the time of his departure.

In the Senate, Biden chaired the Foreign Relations Committee and the Judiciary Committee, shaping U.S. policy on the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, the authorization for the Iraq War in 2002, and arms control debates. As Vice President, he was a key administration figure on Iraq withdrawal and relations with Ukraine.

Biden defeated incumbent Donald Trump in the November 2020 presidential election. His administration's signature domestic legislation included the American Rescue Plan Act (2021), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021), the CHIPS and Science Act (2022), and the Inflation Reduction Act (2022). On foreign policy, his tenure was defined by:

• The August 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending the 20-year war.
• Leading the Western response to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including coordinated sanctions and military aid through NATO partners.
• Re-engagement with multilateral institutions, including rejoining the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization on his first day in office.
• Managing U.S.–China strategic competition, including export controls on advanced semiconductors.
• Responding to the Israel–Hamas war that began October 7, 2023.

In July 2024, Biden withdrew from his re-election campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the November 2024 election to Donald Trump. Biden is the oldest person to have held the U.S. presidency and the second Roman Catholic, after John F. Kennedy.