Treasury Secretary dines at Cheesecake Factory, mocks Obama's dining habits

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stepped out of a downtown Washington restaurant on Monday with a pointed response to former President Barack Obama. Bessent, whose net worth is estimated at $600 million, criticized Obama for implying that working-class Americans dislike the Cheesecake Factory. He did so while holding a receipt for a French Dip Cheeseburger.

The meal cost $22.95 at the restaurant located near the White House. Bessent told a Fox Business reporter that he ordered his usual item, which the menu describes as a charbroiled cheeseburger on a toasted brioche roll with grilled onions, sriracha mayo, and au jus for dipping. The chain currently offers the sandwich with French fries or a green salad.

Bessent directed his comments at Obama, who vacationed on Martha's Vineyard while in office and now owns an estate on the island. Bessent referred to Obama as the leader who built a presidential center that resembles the tomb of Darth Vader. He suggested that the so-called Martha's Vineyard set should try the restaurant's food.

The exchange followed remarks Obama made during a Saturday campaign speech in Ohio. Obama addressed the extensive gold leaf and decorations Trump has added to the White House. He joked that the building looks as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory. The crowd laughed and cheered as Obama asked why there was so much gold everywhere.

Trump allies quickly turned the joke into an attack on Obama's class status. Republican commentator Matt Whitlock wrote on X that the remark showed classic snobbery. He noted that the restaurant is a good choice for people who cannot afford a private chef at their island estates. Scott Jennings, another pundit, claimed Obama has never eaten at the chain and is undefeated at condescending to regular people.

Trump defended his renovation choices on Monday afternoon as he prepared to leave for a rally in Mississippi. He argued that the White House is a symbol of America that requires proper maintenance. Trump claimed Obama does not see dirt, filth, or broken ornaments because he is used to a different standard of living. He insisted that columns cannot be broken and bricks cannot fall off from under the plaster.

The debate over the restaurant's status in American culture sparked its own counter-argument online. Derek Guy, a menswear influencer, wrote that viewing working-class people as culturally illiterate because they eat at chains is condescending. Guy noted that he grew up in a working-class immigrant family that considered Red Lobster and Cheesecake Factory to be fancy nights out. He maintained that such families understand the White House should not look like a casual dining restaurant.

The timing of the dispute falls three days before the midterm election. Most polls indicate Democrats are positioned to gain seats in Congress. The current election cycle features widespread dissatisfaction with high costs, a factor that has lowered Trump's approval ratings and put Republican majorities in the House and Senate at risk.

Cheesecake Factory is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The company's financial results will arrive shortly after this public exchange between the Treasury Secretary and the former president.