By Basant El-Faramawy
President Donald Trump undercut his allies' attacks on former President Barack Obama this week by joking that his own supporters could barely afford a meal at his private Mar-a-Lago club, days after MAGA figures denounced Obama's Cheesecake Factory remark as elitist.
Obama's Cheesecake Factory remark sparks MAGA backlash
During an Ohio rally last week, Obama mocked Trump's White House renovations, saying: "He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory." The comment drew fierce criticism from Republicans and MAGA allies, who portrayed the chain as a modest dining option for hardworking Americans. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dined at a Washington, D.C., Cheesecake Factory on October 26, telling reporters he ordered the French dip cheeseburger and urging the "Martha's Vineyard set" to try it. Representative Randy Fine posted a photo from the restaurant the same day, while Representative Lance Gooden and CNN commentator Scott Jennings echoed the sentiment that Obama was condescending to regular Americans.
Trump's Mar-a-Lago joke draws criticism
At a Monday rally in Mississippi, Trump lashed out at Obama, claiming he "doesn't like successful companies." The following day at a Texas midterm rally, Trump referenced a promised $5,000 "Trump dividend" and suggested supporters could visit Mar-a-Lago, but added: "The problem is that for $5,000, the most you'll be able to buy is a hamburger and maybe a small dessert... that's not a good place if you're price conscious." Mar-a-Lago's membership fee is reportedly $1 million. Social media users quickly highlighted the contradiction, with commentators noting that Trump's remark undermined the narrative that Obama's Cheesecake Factory joke was elitist.
Political implications and polling
The episode comes as Trump struggles to convince voters he is managing pocketbook concerns ahead of the midterms. An AP-NORC poll released this month showed only 17 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the cost of living, and 26 percent approve of his economic management. A YouGov poll last month found 47 percent of respondents described Trump as out of touch.
