Biden began his presidency as a beloved figure in the media, but his inaccessibility, secrecy, and Trump's victory have left his legacy in tatters.

In 2021, President Biden was widely praised by the media as a fresh start for America. On the day of his inauguration, CNN's Anderson Cooper declared it a "new beginning" for the country. One CNN reporter at the time even tweeted that Biden represented a return to "knowledge" and "truth."

In the months after Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President-elect Donald Trump, several columnists and political commentators predicted that his one-term presidency would be remembered most for its harsh reviews.

Washington Post columnist Matt Bai wrote that after a lifetime of noble service, he will be chiefly remembered as a man who didn't know when to leave, like many in his generation.

Biden will depart the White House on January 20, Trump's inauguration day, with some regret about withdrawing from the presidential race in July. Various critics and early media allies of the president have commented on how Biden's legacy will be remembered upon his departure.

In June, when Biden debated Trump, it was evident that history had been taken hostage by a perilous illusion, one that his top advisors and the media who covered him closely shared, according to Bai, despite acknowledging Biden's legislative accomplishments.

In 2020, when Biden became president, members of the press were thrilled and praised him as an honest and trustworthy leader, especially after four years of Trump. During his first press conference, reporter Yamiche Alcindor commended Biden as a "moral, decent man."

Biden will be remembered as a brief pause between two terms of Trump, marking a pivotal moment during a tumultuous era of transformation.

Baker's work on climate change, rebuilding infrastructure, and rallying support for Ukraine were among his highs, according to the report.

Although Bret Stephens of the New York Times praised Biden for NATO enlargement, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, defending Ukraine and Israel, and strengthening alliances in the Pacific, he suggested that these actions might not have a significant impact.

In a January column, Stephens criticized Biden's presidency by pointing out his deceptions and illusions, including his claim that the 2021 migration surge was seasonal, his assertion that the Taliban would not take control of Afghanistan, his statement that inflation was temporary, and his belief that he was the best Democratic candidate to defeat Trump.

Susan Estrich, a democratic strategist, stated to the BBC that Biden's legacy would be marked by Trump's presidency.

"Estrich stated that he hoped his legacy would be remembered for rescuing us from Trump, but unfortunately, his legacy is now associated with Trump once again. He is seen as the transition from Trump One to Trump Two."

Biden's legacy may be remembered as an intermission between the first and second terms of Trump, according to USA Today columnist Sara Pequeño.

"Even if Biden has achieved more to help Americans than Trump ever will, he will be remembered as the old man who handed the country over to Trump instead of the transitory president he claimed he would be, and history could ultimately show that he was."

According to USA Today, Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian, stated that Biden misinterpreted his mandate following the Democrats' victory in the 2022 midterm elections and decided to run for president again.

"Brinkley stated that Biden's presidency is failing as he failed to inspire the nation."

Biden's "overconfidence" prolonged his presidential campaign, and he will be remembered as facilitating Trump's return to the White House, according to The Financial Times' Edward Luce. Luce also criticized the lack of transparency regarding Biden's health.

The conspiracy of silence surrounding Biden's declining mental capacities has not been fully reported. Despite being shielded from unscripted events and press conferences, it was an open secret in Washington that his mind was deteriorating. Biden's inner cabinet of family and longtime aides should share some of the blame. Additionally, the media played a role in this failing. Journalists who exposed the truth risked losing access and facing ostracism on liberal social media.

According to USA Today, Chris Whipple, Biden's biographer, stated that the president's legacy was mixed. While he successfully led the country out of a pandemic and passed bipartisan legislation, he failed to address the border crisis and underestimated the impact of inflation.

"Biden's stubborn refusal to acknowledge his age and his inability to govern for a second term will haunt him," he said.

Franklin Foer, who wrote a biography about the president, stated just after the election results were announced that Joe Biden cannot evade the fact that his four years in office laid the groundwork for Donald Trump's return. This, he said, is his legacy. Everything else is insignificant.

In January, Christine Rampell of The Washington Post wrote that the 46th president's record may not have a lasting legacy, in contrast to his initial promise.

Upon Biden's inauguration, commentators compared him to transformational presidents such as FDR and LBJ, suggesting he would bring about a new era of economic change. They believed he had a mandate to establish a new paradigm for economics beyond neoliberalism.

Despite his repeated statements about respecting the justice system and not using his pardon power on his son, President Biden announced in early December that he would be pardoning Hunter Biden. This move was criticized by pundits and columnists as another reason why he wouldn't be remembered well.

In his statement on the pardon, Biden asserted that Hunter had been subjected to an unjust treatment by the legal system.

In December, CNN host Manu Raju stated that the pardon would tarnish the president's legacy, citing other contentious pardons issued by previous presidents.

Elie Honig of CNN concurred with Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, who asserted that the pardon would adversely affect his legacy in December.

"The CNN legal analyst concurred with the governor that the pardon will negatively impact Joe Biden's legacy. According to the analyst, Biden lied to the public for a long time, stating that he would not pardon his son. He also claimed that he would not take it off the table and used high-minded terminology to justify his decision. However, now that he has reversed his stance, it appears that he has gone back on his word."

Steph called out Biden for repeatedly lying about pardoning Hunter.

Joe Biden's forgetfulness in his last major political act was concerning, but it seems like it has been a recurring issue for him. History may not be kind to him.

Max Boot, a Washington Post columnist and strong Biden supporter, gave a negative evaluation of Biden's foreign policy record.

"Biden will attempt to celebrate his victories, but there are few to be found, according to the source. The source stated that Biden's foreign policy has been a disappointing middle ground, with him alienating many people on both aid to Ukraine and aid to Israel, which have been the two major issues of his administration."

Despite frustration with Biden's foreign policy, Boot acknowledged that he cared for U.S. allies.

Biden's foreign policy has been unsatisfying and frustrating in many ways, but at least he cared about U.S. allies.

During a speech on Monday, Biden stated that his foreign policy has made America stronger.

""The next administration will inherit a strong hand to play, as America is now leading once again," Biden stated."

"Our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker, and we did not go to war to make these things happen," the president stated.

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.