'This doesn’t sit well': Internet abuzz as RFK Jr pans Biden and Trump for 'cowardly' excluding him from June 27 debate

WASHINGTON, DC: Robert F Kennedy Jr lashed out on Thursday, June 20 after CNN announced its June 27 debate would be a head-to-head between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, leaving the independent White House hopeful off the stage.

Kennedy argued that his exclusion from the debate was "undemocratic, un-American, and cowardly."

Robert F Kennedy Jr says Joe Biden and Donald Trump don't want him in the debate

“Presidents Biden and Trump do not want me on the debate stage and CNN illegally agreed to their demand,” Kennedy alleged in a statement from his campaign.

Biden and Trump alone officially qualified for next week’s presidential debate, the first of the cycle, CNN announced on Thursday.

Kennedy had been scrambling to make the cut but appeared unlikely to hit the polling and delegate benchmarks ahead of the deadline, which Biden and Trump have already cleared.

The cable network required contenders to get 15 percent of support in four national polls and to appear as declared candidates in enough places to total 270 electoral votes — the minimum number needed to win the presidency.

Robert F Kennedy Jr's campaign says Joe Biden and Donald Trump's debate violates 'federal law'

Kennedy has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) arguing CNN “colluded” with Biden and Trump to keep him off the stage — and the campaign on Thursday reiterated the allegation that CNN’s Biden-Trump debate is “a clear violation of federal law.”

“If the debate goes forward without Mr Kennedy, the Kennedy campaign intends to pursue this issue for as long as it takes to obtain justice against these illegal acts, if for no other reason than to ensure this type of undemocratic and un-American conduct does not occur again in the future,” Kennedy’s campaign said, per The Hill.

ABC is set to host the second presidential debate on September 10.

Internet reacts to Robert F Kennedy Jr's exclusion from the June 27 presidential debate

Internet reactions to Kennedy's exclusion varied widely.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, "Well.. it was designed to exclude him."

Another remarked, "Yawn. Go home, Robert."

A different user expressed frustration with the debate format, "I love how CNN has to make weird debate rules because Biden is absolutely brain dead."

Other supporters voiced their discontent and provided suggestions. "Kennedy should protest too. I’ll make the trip for that," wrote one.

"If there’s no way to secure a spot on the debate stage, consider going to the debate location and stand in a public area. During the debate, go live on X and answer questions in real-time," suggested another.

Supporters of Kennedy expressed disappointment and frustration, with one saying, "It’s not a debate if you’re not there. I now have zero interest in watching."

Another user wrote, "You deserve to be on the stage. This doesn’t sit well with me."

"They know he'll divide the Democratic vote. Can’t have that," noted one user.

Another joked, "I need him in the debate to take votes from Biden." 

While some dismissed Kennedy's complaints, others emphasized the importance of his presence in the debate. "We want a ‘debate’ not the ‘Gong Show,’ it will be bad enough having Trump there if he chooses to show up," wrote one user.

Another user accused Kennedy of being disingenuous, "Trump doesn't have any say in these debates and you know it. Stop being disingenuous."

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.