Cheesecake Factory Joke Sparks White House Backlash
Obama’s quip about Trump’s gilded renovations drew responses from the president, the Treasury, and the VP.
By Robert Marshall ·
A joke about a restaurant chain has turned into a political flashpoint between the White House and former President Barack Obama.
The exchange began on Saturday when Obama, speaking at a rally in Ohio, criticized President Donald Trump’s renovations of the White House. Obama compared the gold-heavy decor to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein. He noted that gold was everywhere, referencing the late Iraqi leader’s lavish palaces and golden throne.
Obama added that Trump had been supergluing gold medallions to the Oval Office mantel. He also mentioned that the president paved over the Rose Garden and built a ballroom larger than the White House itself. The Cheesecake Factory, founded by David Overton in 1978, operates 218 locations with annual revenue of $1.03 billion. The chain is known for its kitschy interior, which one writer described as a mix of ancient Egypt, Tuscany, and Las Vegas.
Trump responded quickly to the comments. He told reporters that he 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. The official White House X account posted a photo of the restaurant’s large menu. The post stated that the only thing bigger than the menu was the list of Trump’s accomplishments.
Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the topic as well. He posted on X that Obama could not help himself from being super elitist. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a different approach to the backlash. On Monday, he ate lunch at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House. He ordered a French Dip Cheeseburger. Afterward, he told journalists that he would advise the Martha’s Vineyard set to try the restaurant. Bessent also joked that Obama built a museum that looks like Darth Vader’s tomb.
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 or corruption. He noted that the president was not upset by the Saddam Hussein comparison. Obama claimed the White House mobilized a whole government response to the joke. He said they did not respond to inflation or interest rates. He added that the White House called the Treasury Secretary about the incident.
Obama defended his choice of metaphor by noting he is a proud patron of the restaurant. He said he is the father of two daughters and asked if he could have survived their childhood without visiting the chain. Later in the week, Trump brought up dining costs at a rally in Texas. He told supporters they could spend the promised $5,000 on a hamburger and a small dessert at his Mar-a-Lago club. He then advised people not to go there if they are price conscious.
The restaurant chain has been a source of amusement for both sides of the political divide. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over the aesthetic choices in the White House. It also touches on the national conversation regarding the cost of living and dining out. Both parties have used the Cheesecake Factory as a symbol in their respective arguments.
