After comparing President Donald Trump's White House decorating style to the Cheesecake Factory, former President Barack Obama drew fire from Trump and his allies as the popular restaurant chain became an unlikely point of contention in the midterm elections.
Obama jabbed at Trump during an Oct. 24 rally in Ohio over his extensive efforts to overhaul the presidential residence and penchant for gold ornamentation. "He seems very focused on home renovations," Obama said.
"He should be on HGTV… and there’s gold everywhere. What’s up with the gold? Everything, more gold. He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," he added, referencing the former Iraqi dictator whobuilt lavish palaces.
The comments prompted an
indignant response from Republicans, who accused Obama of being elitist and condescending in his remarks about the restaurant chain, which is known for its extensive menu and eclectic, gold flare in extravagant, ancient world motifs.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited a Cheesecake Factory for lunch Oct. 26, announcing his order of a French dip cheeseburger and declaring, "I had a great meal, always have a great meal, and I would tell the Martha’s Vineyard set to give it a try."
The Obamas own a home in Martha's Vineyard, the exclusive New England island enclave.
Trump, meanwhile, defended his White House renovation work, taking exception to having it compared to a Cheesecake Factory.
"The White House is now in the best shape it’s been since 1792 when it was built. It’s in beautiful shape," Trump told reporters Oct. 26 while traveling to a rally in Mississippi, adding: "For you to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows you were a lousy president."
Obama has campaigned for Democrats in the closing stretch of a midterm election that will decide control of Congress, which could give the party a check on Trump's presidency. Trump's critics have seized on the White House renovations, arguing his administration is focused on vanity projects instead of helping Americans with pocketbook issues.
In Ohio, Obama delivered a scathing rebuke of Trump's second term, describing it as "two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence."
Trump had a similarly low assessment of Obama's presidency.
"The way he ran the country, only a stupid person would run the country like that," Trump said. "But we have to explain to Obama that the White House is the symbol of America and it has to be maintained properly."
Contributing: Joey Garrison
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump team seizes on Obama's Cheesecake Factory jab
