President Donald Trump on Monday directly countered former President Barack Obama’s recent criticism of his White House renovations, describing Obama as a “lousy president” who failed to properly care for the historic residence.
Obama had quipped that Trump’s changes had made the White House resemble “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.” In response, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, “For you to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory — that just shows why you were a lousy president.” He added that Obama “doesn’t understand it because he’s not a smart guy… Only a stupid person would run the country like that.”
Trump also alleged that Obama allowed the White House to fall into disrepair during his two terms. “He doesn’t notice dirt and filth that hadn’t been cleaned, where the walls hadn’t been cleaned for years. He doesn’t notice areas that haven’t been painted,” Trump said. “Guys like Obama don’t see it. You don’t see dirt. He doesn’t see filth. He doesn’t see broken ornaments on a building.”
Trump defended his renovation work, which has included constructing a new ballroom, repairing and repainting the North Portico columns, and redecorating the Oval Office with gold fixtures. He stated, “I’ve taken care of the White House. I fixed it with 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.”
Obama made his remarks while campaigning for Democrats in Ohio on Saturday, suggesting Trump “should be on HGTV” due to his focus on construction projects. The former president’s comment about the Cheesecake Factory was made during a rally in Detroit.
