President Donald Trump on Monday forcefully criticized former President Barack Obama, calling him a "lousy president" and "not smart at all" following a weekend jab about the White House's refurbishment.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for a campaign event in Mississippi, Trump stated that Obama's comparison of the renovated White House to a Cheesecake Factory demonstrated his shortcomings as president. "Only a stupid person would run the country like that," Trump said, adding that Obama "doesn't understand" the need for proper maintenance.
Trump defended his administration's extensive renovations, which included flattening the East Wing, altering the Rose Garden's hardscaping, repainting exterior columns, and installing gold fixtures in the Oval Office. He characterized these projects as essential structural care, asserting that he had "fixed" the White House with the help of "the finest artisans in the world."
"We have to explain to Obama that the White House is a symbol of America, and it has to be maintained properly," Trump stated, claiming that Obama "doesn't see broken ornaments on a building" or the "dirt and filth" that he contends had accumulated over years.
Obama's remarks were made during a Saturday campaign appearance for Democrats in Ohio. He jested that Trump "should be on HGTV" and quipped that Trump had made the White House "look like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory." The former president's comments also drew attention due to his own presidential library and museum facing scrutiny over its design.
The official White House X account also joined the exchange, posting a mock menu of Trump's accomplishments in response to the Cheesecake Factory comparison, implying its offerings were far more substantial than the restaurant's extensive menu.