Former President Barack Obama landed a dessert-themed jab at President Donald Trump’s White House makeover at a rally in Ohio Saturday. A pair of prominent conservatives tried to turn it into proof of liberal elitism, and the replies did not go their way.
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory,” Obama told the crowd, in a clip shared by journalist Aaron Rupar that had drawn nearly half a million views by Saturday.
Steve Krakauer, executive producer of “The Megyn Kelly Show,” was unimpressed.
“This line is getting praise on X, but it’s actually elitist garbage written by a speechwriter who clearly hasn’t spent much time in a Cheesecake Factory, which has none of the gaudy Trump aesthetic, and just feels good to say because it represents flyover MAGA ‘night out,’” Krakauer wrote. He later offered a substitute: “How about ‘making the White House look like one of his bankrupt casinos’...”
Conservative CNN commentator Scott Jennings piled on.
“Makes speeches for 500k a pop. Hasn’t eaten dinner that costs less than $250 in years. Has never been in a Cheesecake Factory. Undefeated at condescending to regular folks,” Jennings wrote. “Will always be known for a presidency that ushered in the Trump era to begin with.”
Some of the sharpest responses came from former Obama aides.
“Hard to think of anything more elitist and condescending than to suggest that Cheesecake Factory fans (like me) want the White House to look like Saddam Hussein’s version of the restaurant,” wrote Jon Favreau, a former Obama speechwriter and co-host of “Pod Save America.” “Do you really think that little of people?”
His co-host and fellow former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett described himself as a “proud longtime member of Cheesecake Rewards.” He pointed out that the first Cheesecake Factory still operates “in the heart of MAGA flyover country: Beverly Hills.”
“The decor is famously and purposefully over the top - that is part of the fun!” Lovett wrote. “And don’t fill up on the bread!”
Ben Rhodes, Obama’s former deputy national security adviser, had a shorter answer: “The MAGA is comprised of the biggest snowflakes in the history of the world.”
Democratic social media influencer Harry Sisson said the reaction showed where the right’s priorities lie. “MAGA is more upset about Obama making fun of Trump’s White House renovations than they are about Trump destroying the economy and plunging us into war nobody wanted,” Sisson wrote. “Man these people are such losers.”
Several others answered Krakauer’s claim about the décor with photos. Journalist and author James Surowiecki posted an image of one of the chain’s famously ornate dining rooms and asked, “??? Have you never been to a Cheesecake Factory?” Progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen did the same, quoting Krakauer’s “none of the gaudy Trump aesthetic” over a photo of gilded columns.
Even conservative writer Emily Zanotti wasn’t buying it: “I’m starting to think you guys have never been to a Cheesecake Factory.”
Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer split the difference: “agree, new white house design is way tackier. more on the nose is a sugar factory designed by saddam hussein.”
Jennings’ focus on Obama’s speaking fees drew a separate wave of responses.
Cohen wrote that Trump “has cut healthcare and food assistance for the neediest Americans while raking in $3 billion over the last 18 months,” and added, “Spare us the faux outrage my dude. Your schtick is tired.”
“At $500k a pop, Obama would have to give a speech every night for the next twelve years to match the $2.2 billion in openly corrupt income Trump pulled in in 2025 alone,” wrote Andrew Egger of The Bulwark.
Andrew Perez, politics editor at Zeteo, replied to Jennings with a screenshot of the commentator’s own speakers-bureau listing: “May I inquire about fees.”
Kyle Kulinski, host of “Secular Talk,” was less polite: “MAGA is the most elitist Epstein class pervert movement of all time. You don’t get to pretend to be anti-elitist.”