'Pure meaningless theater': Internet apathetic as 12 news organizations urge Joe Biden and Donald Trump to debate each other

WASHINGTON, DC: Twelve news organizations have called on President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump to commit to debates ahead of their crucial rematch in November, the Associated Press reported.

In a joint statement on Sunday, April 14, the news organizations emphasized the presidential debate as a "rich tradition" of a general election campaign that has been followed without failure since 1976.

"If there is one thing Americans can agree on during this polarized time, it is that the stakes of this election are exceptionally high," the organizations said.

"Amidst that backdrop, there is simply no substitute for the candidates debating with each other, and before the American people, their visions for the future of our nation," they added.

Media outlets, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, PBS, NBC, NPR, and The Associated Press, declared that it was not too early for both campaigns to announce their participation in three presidential and one vice presidential debate conducted by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

During the 2020 election cycle, Trump and Biden came head to head twice. The third one got canceled due to the former's refusal to participate remotely after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Trump wants to debate amid Biden's pending decision

The GOP presumptive nominee multiple times declared his willingness to debate his 81-year-old successor. Whereas in March, Biden stated that the possibility would "depend" on Trump's behavior.

In light of the President's tepid response, Trump, in a recent rally in Pennsylvania, symbolically placed two lecterns on the stage, one for his speech and the other for an empty mic stand, which read, "Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace," mocking his Democratic opponent's refusal to come face to face with him.

In a letter last week, Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita stressed the former president's intention to debate. They asked the Commission on Presidential Debates to organize the debates earlier than the scheduled dates, claiming millions of voters would have cast their votes in early and mail-in ballots before the three debates set on September 16, October 1, and October 9.

Both major party candidates did not participated in any debates during their primary races either as the Democratic Party did not conduct any this cycle, while Trump refused to attend GOP forums.

Internet uninterested for Donald Trump vs Joe Biden debates

Netizens seemed apathetic to watching the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden ahead of the November election, which, according to them, would be a waste of time.

One social media user wrote, "No. No one needs to see Trump or hear Trump. It’s hardly a debate to listen to Trump mumble thru his hitler rhetoric. Don’t waste time."

"Sounds like a complete waste of time to me," another remarked. Meanwhile, one person asked, "Why, so we can hear Trump spout lie after lie, incoherently?"

One response read, "No. Those would be pointless. Says one Citizen," while another called it, "Total nonsense."

"NO, trump will only lie No point," someone else claimed. While one individual said, "Biden’s camp already said they will not allow that. So no sense in trying to push for something that Biden’s handlers already won’t allow."

"They shouldn't. Debates are pointless. And all Trump does is yell and talk over people," a user chimed in.

Another argued, "They want them because of the viewership, not because anything will come out of them that helps them pick who they are voting for. They are pure meaningless theater."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.