President Donald Trump, left, and former Vice President Joe Biden took part in the first presidential debate on Tuesday in Cleveland. They are scheduled to debate two more times, likely under a more structured format after the Commission on Presidential Debates make changes.

Not many cared for the first presidential debate, including Butler County residents.

“It was a national embarrassment that proves many of us don't take voting seriously,” said Lucas Wassam of Butler in a Facebook comment on the Butler Eagle page. “If we did, there would be better choices.”

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger former Vice President Joe Biden debated Tuesday night in Cleveland with Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace as moderator.

American viewers and many political experts echoed Wassam's sentiments, saying the debate was unorganized.

Melissa Jo Hodak Scherrah of Butler also voiced her opinion of the debates on the Eagle's Facebook page. She said both candidates disrespected each other and their responses lacked substance.

“It was a waste of time and they should both be ashamed,” she said. “I hope for more substance in the next debate and would love to finally hear the answer to how the country will pay for Biden's plans to help the environment and to hear Trump denounce, loud and clear, racism and those who perpetuate it.”

In response to the debate's backlash, the Commission on Presidential Debates issued a statement Wednesday admitting the need for added structure to the debate's format.

“The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly,” the statement said.

Tuesday's debate was the first of three scheduled debates between Trump and Biden.

“It was an exciting evening,” said Trump on Wednesday. “I see the ratings were very high, and it was good to be there.”

The feeling was not one shared by Catherine Lalonde, chairwoman for the Butler County Democratic Committee.

Lalonde said Trump debated in a manner she expected, which she said included him talking and yelling over Biden and not allowing his opponent a fair opportunity to speak.

“Trump doesn't debate. He just yells at people,” she said. “He's just a bully. He always has been and always will be.”

Al Lindsay, chairman for the Butler County Republican Committee, said he too was disappointed the debate devolved into a positionless dispute.

“I thought it was going both ways. Obviously these two candidates were at each other very strongly,” Lindsay said. “They were both talking. I don't think we can blame either one of them.”

Lalonde said Biden was able to eke out moments of information about his policy takes, including his stance on the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think he actually laid out some policy ideas,” she said. “He certainly was trying to describe policy and the idea of listening to experts.”

Lindsay said it is easy to criticize decisions after the critical moment has passed. He said Biden criticized Trump after the president restricted travel to and from China. Biden at the time called Trump “xenophobic” for his actions.

“Now they're saying he didn't do enough,” Lindsay said. “You have to make decisions based on the information at hand.”

Lindsay said he hopes any new changes will bring focus back to the issues, particularly the ones that matter to the country and to Butler County.

He said the issues of oil and gas exploration, abortion and the Second Amendment should be a priority in future debates.

“(This debate) wasn't a clear statement of what the issues were, and our position is that the issues are extremely important for this election,” Lindsay said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.