Obama’s Cheesecake Factory jab spurs a midterm spat

Obama’s Cheesecake Factory jab spurs a midterm spat

A Cheesecake Factory jab from former President Obama quickly spiraled into a midterm spat between the GOP and Democrats as the competitive election cycle nears its end.

© Damian Dovarganes, The Associated Press

Obama quipped during a recent campaign stop in Cleveland that President Trump has the White House “looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory, it’s just gold everywhere.”

His remarks referred to Trump’s reported $900 million renovations to the White House, including pricey updates to the Rose Garden and constructing a new granite helipad, according to The Washington Post. Hussein’s Iraqi palaces were also famously adorned with gold fixtures and decor.

“We have to explain to Obama that the White House is a symbol of America, and it has to be maintained properly ,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland en route to Mississippi on Monday.

“It has to be painted, and the exterior plaster can’t be falling off the walls, and the decorations and the ornaments on the windows that are magnificent can’t be on one side of the window and falling off on the other side,” he continued.

“It’s not about money. It’s about seeing. Guys like Obama don’t see it. He doesn’t see dirt, he doesn’t see filth, he doesn’t see broken ornaments on a building,” Trump fired back at the former president. “For you to say it was a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president.”

The White House’s account on social platform X also joined in, posting a doctored Cheesecake Factory menu touting Trump administration policies, including items labeled “The Border Security Special” and “The American Energy Feast.”

“Since we’re talking about The Cheesecake Factory,” it wrote. “The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump’s accomplishments.”

Welcome to The Hill’s Business & Economy newsletter , I’m Max Rego — covering the intersection of Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Key business and economic news with implications this week and beyond:

Four in 10 Americans say their personal finances are deteriorating, according to a new poll released shortly before November’s midterm elections.

Democrats poised to go big on affordable childcare

Heading into a potential new political era, Democratic candidates, policymakers and outside groups all agree on one thing: Something needs to be done on childcare.

Senate Democrats, led by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), are pressing 10 major insurance companies about their decisions to work with the Trump administration to terminate coverage for thousands of ObamaCare enrollees due to alleged fraud.

Consumer sentiment rose in October, as Americans’ views of present and future business conditions improved, according to a new survey.

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

The Federal Open Market Committee will release its decision on interest rates at 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Branch out with more stories from the day:

Frustrated farmers could become a midterm problem for Republicans

Farmers are a key voting group for Republicans, but their votes could be on the line, with the Iran war and President Trump’s tariff and trade wars driving up production costs along with diesel and fertilizer prices.

Business and economic news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Robinhood shares fall 5% as crypto slump weighs on profits, offsetting gains in new businesses ( CNBC )

Texas officials huddled with tech companies before grid blitz ( Politico )

We went to Cuba to see how the fuel crisis is forcing Havana to open its economy ( Wall Street Journal )

President Trump is insisting his plan to redevelop East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., and renovate the public golf course there will be carried out as scheduled despite an order from a federal judge halting future work at the site. Read more

Senators are bracing for a potential floor fight over accepting the results of the Alaska Senate race between incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) and former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) — and perhaps other battleground contests — if President Trump urges allies to dispute what he might view as unfair or “rigged” results.

Opinions related to business and economic issues submitted to The Hill:

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