By Islam El-Sakka
White House staffers ordered dinner from The Cheesecake Factory on election night in a pointed response to former President Barack Obama's recent jab about White House renovations.
Obama's Insult
While campaigning for Democratic midterm candidates last month, Obama said Trump had "got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."
Staffers' Response
Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Pete Doocy reported that some White House officials gathered in the East Room for a viewing reception as midterm votes came in, and other staffers decided to order from the chain.
Election Night Context
Democrats needed to flip four Senate seats and three House seats to win majorities. Early results showed Democrat Jon Ossoff retaining his Georgia Senate seat and Roy Cooper gaining a Senate seat in North Carolina.
Public Reaction
MAGA supporters criticized Obama's remark as elitist toward a chain many Americans consider upscale. Obama dismissed the uproar, saying the restaurant had been his "jam for about a decade" while raising his daughters.
PR Perspective
Marin Richardson, CEO of Disrupt PR, said the feud benefits the chain: "Both sides are fighting over who loves it more. Most brands would pay a fortune for that."
Trump Attacks Fox News
As staffers ate, Trump attacked Fox News on Truth Social, criticizing a Fox News Voter Poll showing 56% of voters said he was not a strong leader, versus 44% who said he was. The poll also found 38% angry, 37% dissatisfied, 18% satisfied, and 7% enthusiastic about the country's direction.
Further Posts
Trump claimed Fox News ratings were down 27% because they covered "Trump Deranged Dumocrats," insisting his own numbers were better than ever.
