The dispute began when Barack Obama likened Donald Trump's gold White House decor to Saddam Hussein opening a Cheesecake Factory during an Ohio campaign event. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent countered by dining at a nearby franchise location, eating a French Dip Cheeseburger and defending the establishment against elite critics. The back-and-forth inspired a tongue-in-cheek proposal to host formal diplomatic dinners at the chain rather than spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new White House ballroom.
Key points
Political rhetoric regarding dining culture and decor has spotlighted a major restaurant…: Political rhetoric regarding dining culture and decor has spotlighted a major restaurant chain as a symbol in partisan debates.
Commentators noted the chain's menu of over 250 items offers vastly more options than the…: Commentators noted the chain's menu of over 250 items offers vastly more options than the traditional set courses served to foreign dignitaries.
Past formal state dinners have featured curated selections such as Dover Sole Meunière fo…: Past formal state dinners have featured curated selections such as Dover Sole Meunière for King Charles III and Goat Cheese Gateau for Emmanuel Macron.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Perspective: Forget the ballroom, we're headed to Cheesecake Factory!
Food fight!
This week, the Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain unexpectedly found itself in the political discourse.
During a campaign event in Ohio, former President Obama criticized President Trump's affection for gold decor, saying, "He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."
Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent retaliated by having a French Dip Cheeseburger for lunch at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House, telling reporters, "I had a great meal, always have a great meal. I would tell the Martha's Vineyard set to give it a try."
But this latest partisan debate made me wonder. Why spend $600 million or more to build a new White House ballroom to host state dinners? Why not just host those esteemed events instead at the Cheesecake Factory?
Come to a state dinner, I've been told, and you kind of have to gulp down whatever yellow squash velouté or fricassée of fava beans a server slides under your chin.
But isn't America all about freedom, choice and options galore?
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