Scott Bessent Enjoys Cheesecake Factory Meal as Obama Draws Backlash for Elitist Joke About Trump’s White House Renovations
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the Cheesecake Factory after former President Barack Obama compared President Donald Trump’s White House renovations to the chain, prompting criticism that Obama was sneering at ordinary Americans and their tastes.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited the Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Monday, ordering the French Dip Cheeseburger and praising the meal. When asked about former President Barack Obama’s recent joke that likened President Donald Trump’s White House renovations to a Cheesecake Factory, Bessent said, "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." He also recommended the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls in a follow-up post on X.
Obama had earlier compared Trump’s extensive interior redesign, which includes gold leaf and new furnishings, to a Cheesecake Factory during a campaign rally in Ohio. Trump responded by defending the renovations as necessary upkeep for a national symbol, adding that critics “don’t see dirt” and that the comparison “shows why you were a lousy president.”
Republican commentators and social-media users weighed in, with some accusing Obama of snobbery and others arguing the exchange reflected broader cultural tensions ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The Cheesecake Factory is scheduled to release its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday.