Bessent orders burger after Obama jab

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent left a Cheesecake Factory near the White House on Monday with a specific message for Barack Obama. The former hedge fund manager, whose net worth is estimated at $600 million, accused the Democratic ex-president of elitism for comparing the current administration's interior upgrades to the mid-range restaurant chain.

Bessent said he ordered his standard item, the French Dip Cheeseburger. The dish, part of the menu's Glamburgers section, costs $22.95 at the downtown Washington location. It features a charbroiled cheeseburger on a toasted brioche roll with grilled onions, Sriracha mayo, and au jus for dipping. Bessent told a Fox Business reporter that the food was great and urged the so-called Martha's Vineyard set to give it a try.

The comment followed Obama's remarks at a Saturday rally in Ohio. Obama suggested Trump should appear on HGTV due to his focus on home renovations. He noted the abundance of gold in the White House, stating that the residence looked as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory. The crowd cheered the reference to the fast-casual dining option.

Trump responded to the criticism on Monday afternoon while preparing to travel to Mississippi for a campaign event. He defended the redesign as necessary maintenance for a symbol of America. Trump argued that Obama failed to see the dirt and broken ornaments on the building during his tenure. He called Obama a lousy president for using the Cheesecake Factory as an example.

Reaction from the political right was swift. Republican commentator Matt Whitlock posted on X that the remark displayed classic Obama snobbery. He suggested the chain was a great option for those who could not afford a private chef. Pundit Scott Jennings called Obama undefeated at condescending to regular folks and claimed the former president had never been inside the restaurant.

Some observers pushed back against that interpretation. Derek Guy, a menswear influencer, wrote on X that the critique was itself condescending. Guy, who grew up in a working-class immigrant family, said his family ate at the Cheesecake Factory for fancy nights out. He noted that even those families understood the White House should not resemble the inside of a Red Lobster.

The exchange occurs days before the midterm election on Nov. 3. Most polls and analyst projections indicate Democrats are poised to make gains in Congress. The election cycle has been defined by widespread unhappiness with high costs, which has lowered Trump's approval ratings. The Cheesecake Factory is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday.