Cheesecake Factory becomes flashpoint in Obama and Trump midterm clash

Former President Barack Obama compared President Donald Trump’s White House renovations to a Cheesecake Factory during a campaign rally in Ohio this week. The comment launched a political exchange that involved the current president, Vice President JD Vance, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Obama made the remark on Saturday while stumping for Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. He described the gilded interior of the White House as looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. He noted that gold was everywhere, referencing the late Iraqi dictator’s habit of building lavish palaces with gold walls and furniture.

The former president also joked that Trump had been supergluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office. He added that the current administration had paved over the Rose Garden and built a ballroom larger than the White House itself. Obama used the rally to argue that the Trump administration was out of touch with Americans facing high costs of living.

President Trump responded quickly to the criticism. He told reporters that he had fixed the White House with the finest artisans in the world. He stated that the building is now in the best shape it has been since 1792. Trump also called Obama not a smart guy when asked about the specific joke.

The official White House account on X joined in with a photo of the Cheesecake Factory’s large menu. The post stated that the only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump’s accomplishments. Vice President Vance posted on X that Obama could not help himself from being super elitist.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took the controversy to a Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Monday. He ate a French Dip Cheeseburger and told journalists that he always has a great meal there. He suggested that the Martha’s Vineyard set, a group he linked to the Obamas, should try the restaurant. Bessent also compared the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago to the tomb of Darth Vader.

The Cheesecake Factory chain was founded in 1978 by David Overton. It currently has 218 locations in the United States and reported annual revenue of $1.03 billion. The restaurant is known for its kitschy decor, which writer Elaine Godfrey described as a mix of ancient Egypt and Tuscany created in Las Vegas.

Obama returned to the topic at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. He said he was surprised the White House focused on the joke rather than policy issues like inflation and corruption. He noted that the president was not upset by the Saddam Hussein comparison. Obama said the administration mobilized a government response to the joke instead of addressing economic concerns.

The former president added that the White House told the Treasury Secretary to hold a press conference in front of a Cheesecake Factory. He emphasized that he is a proud patron of the restaurant, noting that he is the father of two daughters and could not have survived their childhood without visiting the chain.

Later in the week, Trump discussed dining out at a rally in Texas. He suggested that the $5,000 he promised adult citizens could be spent at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. He joked that the amount would only buy a hamburger and a small dessert, then advised price-conscious supporters not to go there.