Obama's Restaurant Joke Triggers White House Firestorm
A quip about gilded decor has drawn responses from the president, vice president, and treasury secretary.
By William Turner ·
Former President Barack Obama is in a comedic spat with the Trump administration over a joke about interior design. The exchange began during a campaign rally in Ohio on Saturday. Obama was mocking the gold-heavy renovations in the White House. He compared the look to a Cheesecake Factory owned by Saddam Hussein.
The joke landed because of the specific aesthetic involved. The Cheesecake Factory is known for ornate, kitschy decor. Obama suggested Trump was adding gold medallions to the Oval Office mantel. He also joked about a new ballroom that is larger than the White House itself.
The restaurant chain was founded in 1978 by David Overton. It now operates 218 locations and reports annual revenue of $1.03 billion. The brand has become a symbol of maximalist American dining for many voters.
President Trump responded quickly to the criticism. He defended the renovations to reporters on Monday. He stated that he fixed the White House with the finest artisans in the world. He claimed the building is now in its best shape since 1792. He also called Obama not a smart guy.
The official White House social media account joined the response. It posted a photo of the restaurant's large menu. The caption said the only thing bigger than the menu is the list of Trump's accomplishments.
Vice President JD Vance accused Obama of elitism on X. He wrote that Obama cannot help being super elitist without even trying. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a different approach. He ate lunch at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Monday. He told reporters he enjoyed the meal and suggested the Martha's Vineyard set give it a try.
Bessent also made a comment about the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. He described the building as looking like Darth Vader's tomb. This added a layer of personal criticism to the policy debate.
Obama returned to the topic at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. He expressed surprise that the administration focused on the joke rather than policy. He noted that the president was not upset by the Saddam Hussein comparison. Obama argued the White House mobilized a government response to a joke rather than to inflation.
He said the Treasury Secretary was told to hold a press conference in front of the restaurant. Obama emphasized his own history with the chain as a father of two daughters. He asked if he could have survived their childhood without visiting the restaurant.
President Trump brought up dining costs later in the week in Texas. He told supporters they could spend a promised $5,000 on a meal at his Mar-a-Lago club. He joked that the money would buy a hamburger and a small dessert. He then advised voters that Mar-a-Lago was not a good place if they were price-conscious.
