Who is our president

Overview

The President of the United States is Joe Biden, who took office on January 20, 2021, following a decisive victory in the 2020 presidential election. As the 46th president, Biden represents the Democratic Party and succeeded Donald Trump after a highly contested campaign season marked by record voter turnout.

Biden’s presidency has focused on economic recovery, climate change, and restoring alliances abroad. His administration inherited significant challenges, including a global pandemic, economic instability, and deep political polarization.

• Joe Biden won 81.3 million votes in 2020, the highest number ever received by a presidential candidate in U.S. history.
• He officially became president after the electoral college certified its results on December 14, 2020, with 306 electoral votes.
• Biden previously served as Vice President for two terms under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.
• He is the first president born in the 1940s and the first to take office at age 78 or older.
• Biden’s home state is Delaware, where he served as U.S. Senator for 36 years before becoming Vice President.

How It Works

The U.S. presidency operates under a strict constitutional framework that defines eligibility, term length, and succession. The process ensures continuity of government and adherence to democratic principles through elections held every four years.

• Term: A U.S. president serves a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms under the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951. Franklin D. Roosevelt remains the only president to serve more than two terms, holding office from 1933 to 1945.
• Presidential elections occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, most recently in November 3, 2020.
• Candidates must be at least 35 years old, natural-born citizens, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
• The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, with a majority of 270 needed to win the presidency.
• Each state’s electors equal its total number of Senators and Representatives in Congress, with California having the most at 55.
• If no candidate wins a majority, the House of Representatives selects the president, as occurred in 1824.
• The 25th Amendment outlines procedures for presidential succession and incapacity, used at least four times since 1967.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of recent U.S. presidents highlights key differences in age, party affiliation, and electoral performance.

The table illustrates a trend toward older presidents in recent decades, with Biden being the oldest at inauguration. Electoral vote counts vary based on state-by-state outcomes, and narrow margins in key swing states often determine the final result. Biden’s 2020 win reflected strong urban and suburban support, particularly in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.

Why It Matters

Understanding who the U.S. president is and how the office functions is essential for informed civic engagement and democratic participation. The president influences domestic policy, foreign relations, and national priorities through executive actions, legislation, and public leadership.

• The president proposes the federal budget, which in 2024 exceeded $6 trillion in spending.
• Biden’s administration passed the American Rescue Plan in 2021, distributing $1.9 trillion in pandemic relief.
• He has appointed three Supreme Court justices, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Court.
• The president commands the U.S. military, with over 1.3 million active-duty personnel under his authority.
• Biden has reengaged with international climate agreements, rejoining the Paris Agreement on his first day in office.
• Presidential decisions affect immigration policy, with over 100,000 new asylum applications processed monthly in 2023.

As the leader of the world’s largest economy and most powerful military, the U.S. president plays a critical role in shaping both national and global affairs. Public awareness of the president’s identity, policies, and powers strengthens democratic accountability and civic responsibility.