Bessent and Trump respond to Obama's White House jab
Former President Barack Obama said at an Ohio rally on Saturday that the White House looks as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory, comparing President Donald Trump's renovations to the restaurant chain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later dined at a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, DC, on Monday, criticized Obama, and posted on X recommending the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls to him. Trump also hit back at Obama at a Mississippi rally, calling him a lousy president. Trump says the ballroom project costs up to $400 million, while a contractor's internal estimate reviewed by the Washington Post put it at $600 million.
Key facts
- Bessent said Obama built a museum that looks like Darth Vader's tomb, referring to the Obama Presidential Center.
- Bessent said he ordered the French Dip Cheeseburger, which costs $22.95 at the downtown Washington location.
- Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said Obama charges $500,000 per speech and has not eaten dinner costing under $250 in a year.
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Why it matters
The dispute centers on the cost and style of renovations to the White House, a publicly funded building.
What changed
First published from CNBC, Hindustan Times, The Independent, The Times of India and Fortune