Where does Joe Biden’s phrase “make my day” come from?

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden challenged the former President, his presumptive challenger in November, to a debate that would take place this summer. The debates will be held before the conventions for both parties, which will take place in July and August, and both Biden and Trump are expected to be named as their party’s candidate. After both candidates agreed, CNN stepped in and proposed Thursday, 27 June, as a potential debate, and the campaigns confirmed that their candidates would be present.

Biden sneaks in a movie reference

In the short clip posted across the President’s social media platforms, he says, “Make my day, pal,” about Trump agreeing to debate him this summer.

The phrase comes from the 1983 Clint Eastwood movie ‘Sudden Impact,’ the fourth movie in the Dirty Harry franchise. Eastwood’s famous character, Dirty Harry Callahan, a homicide detective working for the San Francisco Police Department, is known for his catchphrase, often said by those he is investigating: “Go ahead, make my day.”

The response from Donald Trump

In addition to this reference, Biden claimed that Trump lost both debates to him in 2020 and attempted to show confidence in his debating abilities by acting surprised that Trump was interested in another debate. Those who remember how horrific the 2020 debates were also know that ascribing a winner was next to impossible based on how chaotic the events were, with neither candidate keeping their composure.

Trump’s response to the video was predictable.

First, he attacked Biden for his debate skills, describing him as “the worst debater he has ever faced.” In a follow-up post on Truth Social, he described his opponent as the “WORST PRESIDNET in the History of the United States and a true Threat to Democracy.” Likewise, Trump accepted ABC News’ invitation for a second debate on 10 September.