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Cheesecake Factory Becomes Political Punchline
Confirmed
In Short: The debate over the aesthetics of the White House and the cultural significance of The Cheesecake Factory has become a proxy for discussions about elitism and the disconnect between the political elite and the general public.
During a rally in Ohio, Obama joked that Trump's redecoration of the White House looked like 'Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,' a comment that drew ire from the current administration.
Trump responded by calling Obama 'not a smart guy' and defended the White House renovations, stating, 'The White House is now in the best shape it's been since 1792.'
The Cheesecake Factory, known for its extensive menu and affordable luxury dining, has become a symbol of accessible indulgence for many NBA players.
Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe, for instance, frequented the restaurant long before his NBA career took off, and continues to visit despite his high-profile status.
Former vice-president of design at The Cheesecake Factory, Rick McCormack, expressed disappointment at the political debate surrounding the restaurant, saying, 'I think it’s a little bit sad that the pettiness of politics would create that sound bite, knowing all our challenges going on in the country today...'
The restaurant chain, founded in Beverly Hills in 1978 by David Overton, has seen its reputation evolve from a local marvel to a national institution.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2026, The Cheesecake Factory reported revenue of approximately $1.03 billion, up from $907.2 million during the same period a year earlier.
Obama's comments were part of a broader critique of the Trump administration's priorities, with the former president suggesting that the current administration was more focused on home improvements than addressing the needs of the American people.
The debate over the aesthetics of the White House and the cultural significance of The Cheesecake Factory has become a proxy for discussions about elitism and the disconnect between the political elite and the general public.
What this adds
The Cheesecake Factory's extensive menu, often referred to as 'the Bible,' runs to 22 pages and includes a 'skinnylicious' menu with lower-calorie options.
Background
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated is an American restaurant chain and cheesecake distributor based in the United States. It operates 370 full-service restaurants: 218 under the Cheesecake Factory brand, 47 under the North Italia brand, and 105 under other brands.
What's confirmed
- The furore began when former President Obama, stumping for Democrats in Ohio this week ahead of the midterms, joked about President Trump's White House refurbishments, saying they looked "like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. Just gold everywhere."
What's still developing
- "He has a Ferrari, so he wins that one," Sullinger said.
- "I’m a huge fan of Cheesecake Factory. Before I was in the NBA, Cheesecake used to be the little date spot. I never wanted to change that or thought I was too good for it. We got one in Portland, and I go there all the time. Probably about 15 minutes [away]. I can make the drive over there."
- To get to the bottom of the NBA’s Cheesecake Factory fetish, we stepped into locker rooms at Staples Center in Los Angeles—the Lakers’, the Clippers’, and the visitors’—to ask nearly 30 NBA players the tough questions.
- "I love it. When I first got in the league, it was my go-to spot. It’s like a 5-star restaurant with 3-star prices. Like, shit, coming from Mississippi, it was a 5-star restaurant."
- “I used to go a lot my rookie year because in Utah, a lot of restaurants close early,” Jazz big man Rudy Gobert explained.
- "Cheesecake—that’s huge for me coming up. You’ve got to appreciate the versatility they bestow upon you every time you walk through the door. In Boston, I lived up the street from a Cheesecake Factory. Now, you run into the 5-star dining and all that nonsense. I be tired of that sometimes."
- Over the years, attempts to crack this strange code between hoops stars and the cheesecake stalwart have mainly come in the form of speculation from team trainers and sports analysts.
- Those investigations pointed to portion sizes, consistency, and accessible luxury among prevailing motivations driving pro ballers' passion for Cheesecake Factory.
- So Sullinger and Turner hop in their sports cars and race from campus to the Easton Town Center for a plate of pasta and Skinnylicious salmon, respectively, at The Cheesecake Factory.
- It's easy to take for granted now, but if you lived in Los Angeles during that time, The Cheesecake Factory was kind of a marvel.
- Instead, they are accusing Democrats of elitism (another old classic) and making standing with the Cheesecake Factory a closing midterms message.
- “The White House … is a symbol of America,” he told reporters during a lengthy rant.