US Midterms: Obama Hits Back at GOP Over Trump ‘Cheesecake Factory’ Remark, Calls Outrage ‘Phony’

US Midterms: Obama Defends Cheesecake Factory Jibe at Trump, Calls GOP Backlash ‘Phony Outrage’

Former US President Barack Obama has hit back at Republican criticism of his joke about President Donald Trump’s White House renovations, accusing the GOP of manufacturing controversy instead of addressing issues affecting ordinary Americans.

Speaking at a campaign event in Georgia on Wednesday, Obama said Republicans were focusing on his Cheesecake Factory remark rather than the broader criticism he had raised about Trump’s changes to the White House.

“These are not serious people. They don’t have solutions to actual problems,” Obama said, accusing Republicans of creating “phony outrage” and choosing to “talk about the Cheesecake Factory”.

Obama Mocks Trump’s Reaction to the Remark
Obama also revisited Trump’s response to his original comment, claiming the president appeared more offended by the restaurant reference than by the comparison with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

“The president wasn’t even mad about the Saddam Hussein comparison! That part didn’t bother him. But he was very upset about the Cheesecake Factory comments,” Obama said.

He further claimed that the administration had launched a “whole of government response” to his joke, alleging that officials had even asked the Treasury Secretary to hold a press conference outside a Cheesecake Factory restaurant.

Obama made the original remark on Saturday while criticising Trump’s White House renovations, which include gold-coloured decorative elements and plans for a large ballroom.

“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” Obama said.

Trump Fires Back at Obama
Trump responded to the criticism on Monday, arguing that Obama’s comparison reflected poorly on the former president’s own record.

“For you to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president,” Trump told reporters.

The Republican president also accused Obama of overlooking maintenance problems at the White House during his administration. Trump claimed that the former president had failed to notice damaged masonry and dirty walls.

Republicans also criticised Obama’s comment, arguing that invoking the popular restaurant chain was an insult to middle-class Americans who enjoy dining there.

Obama Responds to Republican Criticism
Obama pushed back against the suggestion that his remark disparaged ordinary Americans or their dining preferences. He said he had visited restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen and Chuck E. Cheese with his daughters.

The exchange has added another layer to the political sparring between the former Democratic president and Trump as campaigning continues ahead of the US midterm elections.

While Trump’s White House renovation plans have drawn criticism from Obama, the Republican response has focused on the former president’s choice of comparison. Obama, meanwhile, has argued that the controversy distracts from more pressing concerns facing Americans.