Joe Biden's presidency and half a century of public service come to an end as Donald Trump begins second term.

In his head-snapping final hours, Biden hewed to tradition and ceremony while issuing dire warnings about his successor’s tactics

According to polling data from Gallup, Biden's average approval rating across his four years of power was 42.2 percent, a historically low figure. The only recent president to score lower was Biden's predecessor and now successor Donald Trump, who had an average approval rating of 41.1 percent over the course of his first term.

The low approval ratings of Joe Biden and Donald Trump at the end of their terms may not matter as recent history suggests the legacies of U.S. presidents improve as years go by. Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Trump transition team for comment via email.

As President Joe Biden gets ready to leave office, we consider his accomplishments, failures, and what his legacy will be.

Minutes before leaving the White House, President Joe Biden pardoned his brother, James Biden and other relatives for unspecified crimes.

With just hours left of his presidency, Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons ... as he prepares to cede power to President-elect Donald Trump. With five days left in his term, the president ...

President Joe Biden issued pardons to several close family members Monday in the final minutes of his presidency.

Trump took the oath of office at his second inauguration and vowing that a "golden age" for the country begins now.

Biden made it clear that his decision to preemptively pardon these individuals was no indication of any guilt on their part

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in an extraordinary use of the powers of the presidency in his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by the incoming Trump administration.

Power in Washington has grown exponentially, enabled by a populace that looks to Washington to address problems that should be dealt with closer to home.