WASHINGTON — President Trump fired back Monday at Barack Obama’s weekend jab comparing Trump’s White House renovations to a branch of The Cheesecake Factory, claiming his predecessor did not take proper care of the historic residence.
“For you to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory — that just shows why you were a lousy president,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing on a campaign trip to Mississippi.
“We have to explain that to Obama because he doesn’t understand it because he’s not a smart guy,” the president continued. “He’s not smart at all because of the way he ran the country. Only a stupid person would run the country like that.”
Trump also claimed Obama allowed the White House to fall into disrepair during his eight years in office.
“He doesn’t notice dirt and filth that hadn’t been cleaned, where the walls hadn’t been cleaned for years. He doesn’t notice areas that haven’t been painted,” Trump said.
“Guys like Obama don’t see it. You don’t see dirt. He doesn’t see filth. He doesn’t see broken ornaments on a building.”
The president defended his renovation work — which has included tearing down the East Wing to build a ballroom, repairing and repainting the North Portico columns of the residence, paving over the Rose Garden and blinging out the Oval Office in gold wall fixtures — as necessary for proper upkeep.
“I’ve taken care of the White House. I fixed it with the finest artisans in the world,” he said. “We have to explain to Obama that the White House is a symbol of America, and it has to be maintained properly.”
Even the White House’s official X account weighed in, poking fun at the restaurant’s massive menu – which averages about 20 pages and 250 items.
“Since we’re talking about The Cheesecake Factory … The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump’s accomplishments,” it posted along with a photo of a mock menu offering a list of “accomplishments” options, including more than one million private sector jobs created and no taxes on tips or overtime.
Obama, while campaigning for Democrats in Ohio Saturday, told supporters Trump “should be on HGTV” due to his focus on construction.
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” added the 44th president, who has faced his own criticism over the design of his post-presidential library and museum on the South Side of Chicago.
The towering, disk-shaped, concrete-and-stone building has been mocked by some wags as an “Obamalisk” and likened to the Death Star space station from “Star Wars.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded to Obama’s comments Monday by visiting a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, DC for lunch.
“This is the man who built the museum who looks like Darth Vader’s tomb,” the South Carolina native told reporters. “I had a great meal. I always have a great meal. I would tell the Martha’s Vineyard set to give it a try.”
The Obamas own a home on the tony island off the coast of Massachusetts, where there is no Cheesecake Factory outlet.
