Obama's Cheesecake Factory joke sparks White House rebuttal
A quip about gold decor during an Ohio rally triggered responses from Trump, Vance, and Treasury Secretary Bessent.
By Christopher Singh ·
The U.S. restaurant chain founded in 1978 became the focal point of a political dispute this week following a remark by former President Barack Obama. Obama made the comment while campaigning in Ohio ahead of the midterm elections.
Obama described the Trump administration's renovations to the White House as looking like a location of the eatery. He said the space appeared as if "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory" with gold everywhere. He added that the current president had been supergluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office. Obama also noted that the administration paved over the Rose Garden and built a ballroom larger than the White House itself.
President Donald Trump responded by defending his design choices to reporters. He stated that he fixed the building with the finest artisans in the world. Trump claimed the White House is now in the best shape it has been since 1792. He called Obama "not a smart guy" when asked about the specific joke. The official White House social media account posted a photo of the restaurant's large menu. The caption stated that the only thing bigger than the menu is the list of Trump's accomplishments.
Vice President JD Vance accused Obama of elitism on X. Vance wrote that the former president could not help being super elitist. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a different approach by having lunch at a restaurant near the White House on Monday. Bessent ate a French Dip Cheeseburger and told journalists he had a great meal. He suggested the Martha's Vineyard set, an apparent reference to the Obamas, should give the chain a try. Bessent also compared the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago to the tomb of a fictional villain.
Obama returned to the topic at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. He said he was surprised the administration focused on the joke rather than policy issues. Obama noted that Trump was not upset by the comparison to the late Iraqi dictator. The former president said the government mobilized a response to the joke instead of addressing inflation. He pointed out that the Treasury Secretary, who manages the economy, was told to hold a press conference in front of the restaurant. Obama stated he is a proud patron of the chain and a father of two daughters. He asked if he could have survived their childhood without visiting the location.
The theme of dining costs resurfaced later in the week. Trump told supporters at a rally in Texas that they could spend the $5,000 he promised every adult citizen at his Mar-a-Lago club. Trump joked that for that amount, the most a person could buy is a hamburger and a small dessert. He added that he was not even sure one could buy that. He then advised supporters not to go there if they were price-conscious. The Cheesecake Factory chain currently operates 218 locations across the country. It reported annual revenue of $1.03 billion.
The chain was started by David Overton, whose mother reportedly made a fine cheesecake. The decor is often described as kitschy. A writer for The Atlantic described the aesthetic as if ancient Egypt and Tuscany had a baby in Las Vegas. Obama originally made the home renovations remarks on Saturday. He portrayed the current administration as out of touch with ordinary Americans. He cited the cost of living crisis and the economic consequences of the war in Iran as key issues. Obama said the administration has resulted in two years of chaos, cruelty, and corruption.
