'Queue up the Rocky music': Internet divided as Joe Biden declines additional NBC and Telemundo debates against Trump

Donald Trump seemed to be deliberately provoking the Biden campaign by accepting debates that could have widened their audience reach
PUBLISHED MAY 18, 2024
Joe Biden has turned down additional debates with Donald Trump proposed by NBC and Telemundo (Getty Images)
Joe Biden has turned down additional debates with Donald Trump proposed by NBC and Telemundo (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Donald Trump's campaign states that it accepted invitations for two additional debates, but President Joe Biden's campaign declined them on Friday, May 17th, as per NBC News.

One proposal involved a presidential debate hosted by NBC News and Telemundo, while the other was a vice presidential debate hosted by Fox News, set to take place at historically Black Virginia State University.

President Biden declines additional debates by NBC and Telemundo against Trump

On Friday, May 17, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I have accepted a fourth Presidential Debate against Crooked Joe Biden, this time with NBC & Telemundo. It is important as Republicans that we WIN with our Great Hispanic Community, which Biden has devastated with Crippling Inflation, High Gas Prices, Crime in our Streets, and Border Chaos."

He added, "This is all in addition to our accepting an invitation from Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum of Fox News to host the Vice Presidential Debate at Virginia State University, or another venue, in Virginia, to be named later."



 

Notably, an NBC News representative said that the network had sent an invitation to both camps for a debate. 

Trump seemed to be deliberately provoking the Biden campaign by accepting debates that could have widened their audience reach, particularly among Latino and Black communities.

(Getty Images)
The Trump and Biden campaigns agreed to two presidential debates this week (Getty Images)

A Biden campaign official declared, "The debate about debates is over. No more games." The Trump campaign criticized Biden's decision in a statement released on Friday night.

Campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said, "The Telemundo/NBC debate would be widely watched by Hispanic voters, but Biden’s handlers are petrified to allow him to defend his disastrous record. Crooked Joe Biden is too 'cobarde' to address the Hispanic community and answer for his failures on the debate stage!"

It's worth mentioning that the Trump and Biden campaigns opted for two presidential debates this week, bypassing the customary Commission on Presidential Debates procedure.

The first will be held by CNN in Atlanta on June 27 and the second by ABC News in an undisclosed location on September 10.

Additionally, the Trump campaign has yet to accept the invitation from Fox News for a vice presidential debate, while the Biden campaign has already agreed to participate.

Internet shares mixed reactions as Biden rejects additional debates against Trump

People on the internet remained divided with their opinions as Joe Biden's campaign declined additional debates against Donald Trump. 

A user posted on X, "Queue up the Rocky music," while one added, "The only way he could win is by rigging it… again!"



 



 

A person also wrote, "Won’t be a debate with Trump in prison," whereas one mentioned, "Trump should begin his opening statement say something to the effect of, 'They are going to replace him after tonight, this debate is pointless. But let’s do it anyway.'" [sic]



 



 

A user also said, "I’ve been saying for the beginning that it’s a setup because they want to get rid of Joe Biden and replace him with someone else."



 

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.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Randy Fine of Florida introduced the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act to make Greenland the 51st US state after President Donald Trump’s push
2 hours ago
Elizabeth Warren urged Democrats to confront economic pressures, saying that voters wanted leaders who tackled affordability and broken systems
8 hours ago
President Donald Trump warned that a Supreme Court ruling against tariffs could hurt the economy, forcing the US to repay billions
8 hours ago
GOP bill sought ban on stock trades as the measure targeted lawmakers, spouses, and children, requiring advance disclosures and penalties for breaches
9 hours ago
With Garlin Gilchrist out, Jocelyn Benson's fundraising edge and statewide recognition made her the clear Democratic frontrunner
10 hours ago
Michael Steele said that Donald Trump, within six months in office, struck at institutions which left them cowering 'in a corner' instead of resisting
1 day ago
David Carr vowed to counter socialist-inspired proposals like city-run grocery stores, calling them a failed ideological experiment
2 days ago
Marco Rubio confirmed the Trump admin had ended ties with 66 global groups, citing taxpayer accountability and rejecting 'ineffective' institutions
2 days ago
Chris Murphy proposed a bill to curb DHS powers by banning face coverings, limiting interior raids, and boosting transparency after Renee Good's death
2 days ago
Federal Judge Arun Subramanian issued a 14‑day restraining order, saying states had met the legal threshold to preserve aid programs
2 days ago