...
By Taryn Pedler
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Trump administration has hit back at former President Barack Obama after he mocked Donald Trump's White House renovations, by sharing a mock restaurant menu celebrating Trump's achievements.
The exchange began Saturday, when Obama criticized Trump's extensive renovations during a campaign rally in Cleveland, Ohio. The Democrat compared the White House's gold-heavy decor to a Cheesecake Factory opened by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The remarks prompted a response from Trump on Monday, with the White House leader defending the renovations and calling Obama a "lousy president."
Read More on News
Meanwhile, other members of the administration have since joined the dispute, turning the restaurant chain into an unexpected talking point in the final stretch before the November midterm elections.
What Obama Said
Obama made the remarks while campaigning in Ohio for Democratic candidates, including Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton.
Criticizing Trump's focus on renovating the White House, Obama suggested the president was paying too much attention to construction projects rather than addressing issues affecting Americans.
"I mean, I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovations," Obama told the crowd. "He should be on HGTV."
He went on to criticize the president's plans for a new ballroom, the changes to the Rose Garden and the addition of gold decorations throughout the White House.
"What's up with the gold? I mean, he's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," Obama said.
...
Newsweek has approached Cheesecake Factory for comment via email and is awaiting a response.
Obama's comments formed part of a broader criticism of Trump's priorities, with the former president questioning whether the Republican was spending enough time addressing the issues that matter to voters.
The exchange comes as both parties campaign ahead of the November midterms, when control of Congress will be at stake.
How the Trump Administration Has Responded
Trump initially attacked Obama in a Truth Social post following the Ohio rally, criticizing his predecessor's record and campaign appearance.
On Monday, the president addressed the Cheesecake Factory comparison directly while speaking to reporters before traveling to Mississippi. He defended his renovations, arguing that the White House had been in poor condition when he returned to office.
"I've taken care of the White House," Trump said. "I fixed it with the finest artisans in the world."
He described problems with the building's exterior, including damaged plaster, missing ornaments and broken architectural features. The president said that the work was necessary to maintain the historic residence.
Trump also criticized Obama personally, saying: "For you to say it's a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president."
Trump added that the White House was a symbol of the United States and needed to be properly maintained, while also defending the restaurant itself.
He described Cheesecake Factory as a successful company and suggested Obama did not appreciate such businesses.
White House Shares Mock Cheesecake Factory Menu
The White House's official X account also joined the exchange, publishing a mock Cheesecake Factory menu featuring a list of the administration's claimed accomplishments.
"Since we're talking about The Cheesecake Factory…The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump's accomplishments," the account wrote.
...
The graphic presented administration talking points in the style of a restaurant menu, including claims about private-sector job creation and the elimination of federal taxes on tips and overtime.
"In less than two years, the Trump Administration had pursued a historic agenda focused on securing our borders, restoring American energy dominance, cutting taxes for working families, and rebuilding American industry," the menu read.
Under a section labeled Specialty Achievements, the mock menu listed The Manufacturing Renaissance, The Tax Relief Trio, The Safe Streets Special, The America First Trade Deal, The Blue-Collar Room, The American Energy Feast, Peace Through Strength, and The Trump Accounts Special as some of its achievements.
The post turned Obama's comparison into an opportunity for the administration to promote its record, using the restaurant's famously extensive menu as the basis for the joke.
Scott Bessent Visits Cheesecake Factory
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took a more direct approach, visiting a Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
Bessent used the occasion to criticize Obama's own architectural project: the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
"This is the man who built the museum that looks like Darth Vader's tomb," Bessent told reporters, referring to the design of the former president's center.
Bessent also praised his meal at the restaurant, saying he had enjoyed it, while recommending the "Cheeseburger Spring Rolls" to Obama.
The response has also prompted a broader argument over whether Obama's comparison was a criticism of Trump's interior design or an insult to a restaurant popular with Americans.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle separately defended the president's renovation efforts in comments to Axios. He said Trump had done more than his predecessors to improve the country's interior spaces.
Ingle also criticized Obama, describing him as one of the most dishonest, divisive and destructive presidents in history.
Trump's White House and Washington Renovations
Obama's remarks referred to a series of changes Trump has made to the White House since returning to office in January 2025. These include extensive gold decorations, changes to the Rose Garden and plans for a new ballroom.
The projects have attracted attention because of their scale, their impact on the historic presidential complex, and the operation's overall price tag of up to $1 billion.
Oval Office
Trump has extensively redecorated the Oval Office, adding gold-colored embellishments, gilded details and decorative objects.
The changes have given the room a more ornate appearance, with gold accents becoming a prominent feature of the president's redesign.
Rose Garden
Trump replaced the Rose Garden's traditional grass lawn with a stone patio and added tables and yellow-and-white striped umbrellas.
The administration has presented the changes as practical improvements for hosting events, while critics have questioned the effect on the historic garden.
White House Ballroom
One of Trump's most significant projects is a planned ballroom measuring approximately 90,000 square feet.
The central 650-seat ballroom with a 3-story underground expansion, including bunkers and a medical/military facility, is set to replace the demolished East Wing.
The White House initially announced in July 2025 that the project would cost approximately $200 million, but the price tag has climbed to an estimated $400 million to $600 million.
...
...
...
Construction required the demolition of the existing East Wing, which had undergone significant changes since its construction in 1902 and the addition of a second story in 1942.
The scale of the project and the demolition have drawn scrutiny from critics concerned about alterations to the historic complex.
South Lawn Helipad
Trump has also overseen construction of a helipad on the South Lawn.
The president has described the work as part of his broader effort to improve the White House grounds and accommodate presidential operations.
West Wing and Other Changes
Other projects include replacing the stone walkway along the West Wing colonnade, adding presidential portraits accompanied by Trump's commentary and installing new flagpoles on the White House grounds.
The administration has defended the changes as improvements intended to maintain and enhance the presidential complex.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the work addresses longstanding maintenance issues and helps preserve the White House for future administrations.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and James Debens
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines