Politics
President Trump Accuses Barack Obama of Leaving White House in ‘Dirt and Filth’ After Renovation Jab
President Donald Trump wasn’t about to let Barack Obama‘s recent dig at the White House makeover slide.
Trump, 80, fired back at his predecessor on Monday, October 26, while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, according to video of his remarks published on the official White House website. “For [Obama] to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory, that just shows why you were a lousy president,” Trump said.
The exchange followed Obama’s appearance at a Democratic campaign event in Ohio on Saturday, October 24. Per CNN, the former POTUS, 65, joked that Trump “should be on HGTV” and quipped, “He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
Trump also took aim at his predecessor‘s intelligence, telling reporters, “He’s not smart at all because of the way he ran the country. Only a stupid person would run the country like that.”
The president went on to criticize the condition of the White House during Obama’s administration, claiming there was “dirt and filth” and that some walls hadn’t “been cleaned for years.”
“Guys like Obama don’t see it,” Trump said, before adding, “He doesn’t see broken ornaments on a building.”
Trump defended his extensive White House renovations, which have drawn criticism over projects including the removal of the East Wing to make way for an event space and the installation of gold fixtures in the Oval Office.
“I’ve taken care of the White House. I fixed it with the finest artisans in the world,” Trump told reporters. He added, “We have to explain to Obama that the White House is a symbol of America, and it has to be maintained properly.”
The official White House X account also joined the exchange, poking fun at the restaurant chain’s famously lengthy menu.
“Since we’re talking about The Cheesecake Factory… the only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump’s accomplishments,” the account posted alongside a mock menu highlighting his administration’s achievements.
