The story so far
- Obama Slams Trump's Cruelty and Chaos in Midterm Pitch42 sources
- Obama Mocks Trump's White House Decor as Cheesecake Factory-StyleYou are hereLatest
Updated 2h ago · Politics
Obama Mocks Trump's White House Decor as Cheesecake Factory-Style
Former President Barack Obama mocked President Donald Trump's White House renovations at an Oct. 24 rally. He said they make the building look "like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."
- Obama cited the new ballroom, the paved Rose Garden and gold decor.
- Trump called Obama a lousy president who neglected White House upkeep.
- Bessent compared Obama's presidential center to Darth Vader's tomb.
- $850 million is the cost Obama's critics cite for his Chicago library.
Why it matters: Obama framed the renovations as proof Trump is not focused on lowering prices. Republicans turned the joke back on him, calling the chain an affordable outing for working families.
- Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, called the chain a nice dinner for hardworking Americans.
- White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called Obama one of history's most destructive presidents.
How 27 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
27 sources · 42 articles · 41% Right coverage
Where they split: The dispute is whether Obama's line was a fair jab at Trump's taste and priorities or a sign of contempt for ordinary Americans.
Center coverage, 6 sources: The center treats it as a rally line that pulled a restaurant chain into a wider debate over decor and affordability.
USA Today11hTrump team seizes on Obama's Cheesecake Factory jabThe Hill9hTrump fires back at Obama’s Cheesecake Factory jabAxios13hHow the Cheesecake Factory got dragged into a midterms food fightCNBC12hBessent dines at Cheesecake Factory, slams Obama over Trump jokeNOTUS10hIs The Cheesecake Factory Really a Restaurant for Regular Americans? - The Washington SunThe National Desk8hTrump says White House needed repainting and repairs, blasts Obama over upkeep
Left coverage, 10 sources: The left frames it as Trump hitting back at Obama, centering Trump's personal insults about Obama's intelligence.
Political Wire13hTrump Fires Back at Obama Over ‘Cheesecake Factory’ JabRaw Story6hGOP pundits' swipe at Obama instantly backfires amid cheesecake fiasco: 'No, darling'HuffPost12hSure Looks Like Obama’s ‘Cheesecake Factory’ Diss Got Under Trump’s SkinAlterNet22hMorning Joe panel howls at GOP's 'desperate' Cheesecake Factory meltdownCleveland.com17hBefore Obama's Cheesecake Factory joke, here's how he mocked Trump's tasteEsquire13hThe Cheesecake Factory Isn’t the Symbol of Flyover America That Right-Wing Pundits Think It IsMediaite12hTrump Rages Against ‘Stupid’ Obama: ‘For You To Say It’s a Cheesecake Factory…’New York Magazine16hThe Most Overheated Takes on Obama’s Cheesecake Factory LineThe Daily Beast5hMAGA’s New Barack Obama Outrage Baffles Jon StewartThe Independent9hTrump rants at Obama for comparing president’s White House decor to a Cheesecake Factory
Right coverage, 11 sources: The right sees the joke as elitism toward everyday Americans from a man whose own library critics consider an eyesore.
Twitchy8hCheesecake Factory Reset: Scott Jennings Says Obama Has No Room to Criticize Trump’s Design ChoicesThe Post Millennial2dObama demolished for comparing Trump’s decor to Cheesecake Factory after adding massive eyesore to Chicago’s skylineDaily Mail3hTrump slams Obama's 'dirty, filthy and broken' White House during scathing rant in defense of renovations following former president's Cheesecake Factory jokeNew York Post7hTrump doubles down on Obama criticism as his voice starts to give out amid campaign rally blitzThe Gateway Pundit9hWATCH: Trump Shreds Obama for Cheesecake Factory Comments, “He Doesn’t Notice the Dirt and Filth that Hadn’t Been Cleaned” * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan ConradsonWashington Examiner7hTrump hits back at Obama's Cheesecake Factory joke: 'He doesn't understand'WND11h‘You were a lousy president!’ Trump addresses Obama directly on Cheesecake Factory slur * WorldNetDaily * by WND StaffCitizen Free Press18hObama ignores ugly Chicago library, says White House looks like ‘Cheesecake Factory designed by Saddam.’Hot Air12hMonday's Final WordRedState16hBessent Serves Obama a Slice of Humble Pie at the Cheesecake Factory; Trump Adds the Cherry on TopRSBNetwork11hSecretary Bessent has the perfect response to Obama’s ‘Cheesecake Factory’ comments
What’s next: Obama is back on the campaign trail backing Democrats before the midterms. Outlets disagree on where he spoke: USA Today places the rally in Michigan for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, while RedState and The Post Millennial place it in Cleveland.
- The Cheesecake Factory had not responded to USA Today's request for comment.
- Will the exchange affect how voters view either party on affordability?
- Will The Cheesecake Factory respond publicly?
View all