Former President Barack Obama mocked President Donald Trump's redecoration of the Oval Office last week, saying Trump seems focused on home renovation and should be on HGTV. Obama joked the White House now looks like "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," drawing attention to the gilded vases, frames, trophies and platters that mark a departure from the sober aesthetic traditionally maintained in the executive mansion.
The remark triggered immediate backlash from conservative commentators. A Fox News anchor described Obama as "sounding more bitter than ever," while Ben Shapiro called the former president "such a jerk!" GOP strategist Scott Jennings attacked Obama on X, writing that he "Makes speeches for $500K a pop" and is "Undefeated at condescending to regular folks."
Critics framed Obama's joke as elitist condescension toward the restaurant chain and its customers. However, Trump reported earning more than $2 billion last year, including about $1.4 billion from crypto ventures that critics say allow anonymous entities to curry favor. Unlike recent predecessors, Trump has not placed his investments in a blind trust and holds stakes in companies like Nvidia and Tesla that are affected by his policy decisions.
The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that Trump purchased up to $175,000 worth of stock in the Cheesecake Factory last year. Trump subsequently praised the company as "a very successful business," illustrating the overlap between his personal finances and public rhetoric that has drawn scrutiny regarding potential corruption.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
English (US)·