The Cheesecake Factory is seen on May 02, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.

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Kayla Bartkowski/Getty

They say there’s no such factor as unhealthy publicity. If that’s true it’s been a golden week for the Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain.

The furore started when former President Obama, stumping for Democrats in Ohio this week forward of the midterms, joked about President Trump’s White House refurbishments, saying they regarded “like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. Just gold everywhere.”

The late Iraqi dictator was identified for constructing lavish palaces, with gold partitions, cupboards of gold-plated rifles, a golden throne and of course a lot of depictions of the man himself.

Trump is also well-known for his love of anything gilded and Obama joked he’d been “supergluing gold medallions to the mantel in the Oval Office,” while also paving over the Rose Garden and “building a ballroom that’s bigger than the White House.”

Former President Barack Obama speaks during a marketing campaign rally for Democratic Ohio Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Cleveland.

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Sue Ogrocki/AP

And the Cheesecake Factory? The beloved U.S. restaurant chain was began in 1978 by David Overton, whose mom reportedly made a tremendous cheesecake, and now has 218 areas across the nation and an annual income of $1.03 billion. 

But it’s as well-known for its kitschy decor as its meals, with The Atlantic author Elaine Godfrey describing it in an article this week “as if ancient Egypt and Tuscany had a baby in Las Vegas.”

Obama first made the “home renovations” remarks at the political rally on Saturday, where he also portrayed the Trump administration as out of contact with bizarre Americans struggling from a price of residing disaster and the financial penalties of the president’s conflict in Iran.

Obama said the Trump administration had resulted in “two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption” and that these at the helm were not “serious people.”

Former Iraqi chief Saddam Hussein’s palace of al-Faw is seen in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 23, 2023. The palace is right now the location of the American University.

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Hadi Mizban/AP

The administration was fast to reply, with President Trump defending his style, saying: “I’ve taken care of the White House, I’ve fixed it with the finest artisans in the world.”

“The White House was in terrible shape. The White House is now in the best shape it’s been since 1792,” he advised reporters when requested about Obama’s quip, including that Obama was “not a smart guy.”

The official White House X account posted a photograph of the Cheesecake Factory’s famously giant menu, saying “Since we’re talking about The Cheesecake Factory… The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump’s accomplishments.”

Allegations of elitism

Vice President Vance reacted by accusing Obama of being out of contact with bizarre Americans. “Obama, without even trying to be, just can’t help himself for being super elitist,” he wrote on X.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also sought to capitalize on the backlash, having lunch at a Cheesecake Factory close to the White House on Monday. He ate a French Dip Cheeseburger and advised journalists afterwards: “I had a great meal, always have a great meal, and I would just tell the Martha’s Vineyard set to give it a try,” in an obvious reference to the Obamas who are identified to vacation on the unique island.

Gold-colored Presidential seals are seen on a hearth in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Washington.

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Mark Schiefelbein/AP

On the matter of style in decor, Bessent, who used to handle a hedge fund, also made an obvious jibe about the new Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.

“This is the man who built the museum [that] looks like Darth Vader’s tomb,” he added.

Obama was undeterred, taking up the theme again at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, and saying that he was stunned that instead of hitting back on his criticisms about coverage and corruption, the White House was more upset about the Cheesecake Factory comment.

“The president wasn’t even mad about the Saddam Hussein comparison! That part didn’t bother him,” said Obama.

“They mobilized a whole of government response to that joke. Not to inflation, but to that joke. The White House even called the Secretary of the Treasury. This is the man who is in charge of the economy. The person who’s supposed to be figuring out how to make your life more affordable,” he added.

“The guy who’s supposed to be figuring out how to lower inflation. And reduce interest rates. They told him he should hold a press conference in front of the Cheesecake Factory.”

Obama also harassed he had been a proud patron of the restaurant for many years.

“I am the father of two daughters. Do you think I could have survived their childhood without going to the Cheesecake Factory?”

Construction continues on the White House Ballroom, as seen from the Washington Monument, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Washington.

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Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Later in the week, eating places and affordability came up again. Trump advised supporters at a political rally in Texas that they could spend the $5,000 he’s promised every grownup citizen if the Republicans preserve Congress on eating out at his Mar-a-Lago membership in Florida.

“The problem is that for $5,000, the most you’ll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert,” Trump joked.

“I’m not even sure you could buy that,” he said, before rescinding the recommendation: “No, don’t go there. That’s not a good place if you’re price-conscious.”