Obama jokes he couldn’t have raised daughters without Cheesecake Factory amid Trump feud

WASHINGTON, DC: Barack Obama joked about his daughters' childhood and his love for The Cheesecake Factory while criticizing President Donald Trump’s White House renovations. The former president took aim at the gold-heavy Oval Office decor during a campaign appearance in Ohio, comparing its appearance to something out of a restaurant.

Obama also recalled how the restaurant chain had been his favorite for years, joking that he could hardly have raised his two daughters without visiting it. His remarks added a personal twist to the dispute over Trump's decorating choices, as the president defended his plans to renovate the White House.

Obama jokes about raising daughters with Cheesecake Factory visits

Obama was in Ohio on Saturday for a campaign stop when he criticized Trump's gold-heavy Oval Office decor. He joked that the room looked like Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory. He also suggested that Trump could appear on HGTV, a network known for home renovation and makeover shows.

The former president then turned the joke toward himself, recalling his own fondness for the restaurant chain.

"That was my jam for about a decade."

Obama also explained how the restaurant had become part of family life while raising his daughters.

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

The remarks added a humorous twist to his criticism of Trump's decorating choices. Obama's comparison also highlighted how the restaurant had become a familiar part of his family's routine.

The comments came amid a wider political dispute over Trump's approach to renovating the White House and his focus on changing its appearance.

Trump defends White House renovations after Obama's remarks

President Donald Trump defended his renovation projects during a rally in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, addressing Obama's criticism of the redecorated Oval Office.

"I fix things very good, very beautifully," Trump said. "It's a natural thing. It actually relaxes me."

Trump also praised The Cheesecake Factory as "a very successful company" while arguing that maintaining the White House was important.

"The White House represents our country, and that has to be pristine," he said. "And I would try and explain that to a guy like Obama, but he wouldn't understand.”

Trump argued that the renovations were necessary to maintain the White House and preserve its appearance. He said he had wanted to undertake the projects during his first term but did not have enough time.

"I didn't take any time," Trump said. "It's been my honor to do it. I have fun doing it."

Trump defends plans for a permanent White House ballroom

Trump has also defended plans for a new White House ballroom, saying it would provide a permanent venue for official events instead of relying on temporary tents. The project has become part of the broader debate over his renovation plans.

Trump has maintained that the projects are intended to preserve the building and improve its facilities. Obama, meanwhile, used humor to criticize the decor, drawing on a restaurant familiar to many Americans to make his point.

The exchange added a personal dimension to the political debate, with Obama's remarks about raising his daughters offering a lighter counterpoint to Trump's defense of his renovation priorities.

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the dispute provides another point of contrast between the two political figures as they continue to argue over the administration's priorities.