Obama’s ‘Saddam Hussein’s Cheesecake Factory’ jab at Trump comes back to bite him: ‘Guy built himself a wizard prison’
Former President Barack Obama took a swipe at President Trump’s White House bling comparing it to a Cheesecake Factory run by Saddam Hussein — but critics quickly pointed out that this was all very rich coming from the guy behind the “Death Star” presidential library in Chicago.
Obama unleashed the decor diss Saturday while campaigning for Democrats in Ohio, accusing Trump of spending more time sprucing up the White House than helping Americans.
“I mean, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovations,” Obama said. “He should be on HGTV.”
The ex prez then went for the zinger: “He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
But conservatives quickly piled on, pointing that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
“The guy who designed this wizard prison for himself has thoughts on aesthetics?” said GOP comms guru Matt Whitlock.
Another commenter added: “The guy who built this intergalactic porta potty is criticizing the way Trump decorates the White House.”
The towering Chicago complex, with its massive rock-like design, has also been mocked as the “Obamalisk” and the “Death Star” for its hulking appearance.
Others took issue with Obama using the Cheesecake Factory as a punchline, arguing the chain is a perfectly respectable destination for families looking to splurge on dinner.
“Does Obama not understand that to most Americans the Cheesecake Factory is a very nice and fancy restaurant?” one X user asked.
“Classic Obama snobbery,” another wrote. “Cheesecake Factory is a great option for people who can’t afford a private chef at their Martha’s Vineyard estate.”
The online backlash comes as the Obama Presidential Center, which officially opened in Chicago on June 19, has faced scrutiny over its soaring price tag and construction disputes.
The Obama Foundation put the project’s estimated cost at $850 million, hundreds of millions above early estimates.
Some subcontractors have also alleged they are owed millions for their work, though the foundation’s construction manager is responsible for handling those contract disputes.
Trump’s makeover projects include a proposed White House ballroom, announced in July 2025, a revamped Rose Garden and a helipad on the South Lawn..
Trump’s ballroom has also faced its own questions over cost. The White House initially pegged the price at $200 million, but a contractor’s estimate obtained by The Washington Post put the broader project’s cost at $600 million, a substantial portion expected to come from taxpayers — despite Trump previously saying private donors would cover the ballroom.
The administration says the ballroom would provide a permanent venue for major White House events, accommodating up to 650 seated guests — more than triple the East Room’s capacity of 200.
