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." 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. 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. 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.
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