White House officials joke about Cheesecake Factory after Obama gibe

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ate lunch at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Monday to respond to a joke made by former President Barack Obama. Bessent ordered a French Dip Cheeseburger and told journalists outside the restaurant that he had a great meal. He urged the Martha's Vineyard set to try the food, a reference to where the Obamas often vacation.

The dispute began on Saturday when Obama spoke at a Democratic rally in Ohio. He compared the gold-heavy renovations at the White House to the palaces of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Obama said the decor looked like the dictator had opened a Cheesecake Factory. He described the space as having gold everywhere. He also joked that Trump had been supergluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office.

President Trump defended his design choices the same day. He told reporters that he fixed the White House with the finest artisans in the world. Trump said the building was in terrible shape before the work began. He claimed the White House is now in the best condition it has seen since 1792. Trump also called Obama not a smart guy when asked about the comment.

Vice President JD Vance joined the administration in responding to the joke. He posted on X that Obama could not help being super elitist. The official White House account on X shared a photo of the chain's large menu. The post noted that the list of President Trump's accomplishments is bigger than the menu.

Bessent added his own commentary on Monday. He referenced the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. He described the museum as looking like Darth Vader's tomb. Bessent previously managed a hedge fund before joining the administration.

Obama repeated his comments at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. He said the White House was more upset about the restaurant joke than his criticisms of policy and corruption. Obama noted that the president did not seem bothered by the Saddam Hussein comparison. He said the administration mobilized a whole of government response to the joke instead of addressing inflation.

Obama stated that the White House told the Treasury Secretary to hold a press conference in front of a Cheesecake Factory. He said he is a proud patron of the chain. He asked his audience if he could have survived raising two daughters without visiting the restaurant.

The debate over dining costs continued at a rally in Texas later in the week. Trump told supporters they could spend a promised $5,000 check at his Mar-a-Lago club. He joked that the amount would only buy a hamburger and a small dessert. He then advised supporters not to go there if they are price conscious.