All year, Republicans have struggled to find a message that would resonate with American voters and turn back the rising blue tide ahead of what look likely to be brutal midterm elections. They’ve tried everything, from transphobia to Islamophobia to redemonizing immigrants to rebooting the Red Scare to blaming Joe Biden for President Trump’s economic malaise, but none of it clicked. Then inspiration struck. A little over a week before Election Day, Barack Obama quipped that the gold- and renovation-obsessed Donald Trump has “got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”

You might think Trump’s allies would be upset about Obama comparing the president to a notorious palace-dwelling despot who ran his country into the ground. But Trump officials and MAGA influencers aren’t defending Trump against that slight. Instead, they are accusing Democrats of elitism (another old classic) and making standing with the Cheesecake Factory a closing electoral message. And they’re not the only ones still talking about Obama’s most disastrous gaffe since the tan suit. Below, the latest and hottest takes about this vital new American discourse, which may — or, more likely, may not — be studied by political scientists for generations.

. “It’s time for Trump to work a shift at the Cheesecake Factory”

Last election it was McDonald's. Is this Trump's 2026 anti-snob stunt: https://t.co/atokGlO1y0 pic.twitter.com/zX0oo5CZMK— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) October 25, 2026

Last election it was McDonald's. Is this Trump's 2026 anti-snob stunt: https://t.co/atokGlO1y0 pic.twitter.com/zX0oo5CZMK

The Washington Examiner’s Christopher Tremoglie thinks Trump should reenact his 2024 McDonald’s working-class cosplay and “make Obama eat his words and serve them with a delicious piece of cheesecake from the restaurant”:

Consider the possibilities.For example, say a restaurant guest orders the Cheesecake Factory’s Tex-Mex egg rolls. Trump comes out, delivering their food and reminding them that he has stood up to China and implemented strong border security along the Texas-Mexico border.Someone orders the chocolate tuxedo cream cheesecake? After delivering dessert to the patrons, Trump reminds them that tuxedos are worn by the corporate executives who have committed to new investments in the U.S. totaling $11 trillion.

Consider the possibilities.

For example, say a restaurant guest orders the Cheesecake Factory’s Tex-Mex egg rolls. Trump comes out, delivering their food and reminding them that he has stood up to China and implemented strong border security along the Texas-Mexico border.

Someone orders the chocolate tuxedo cream cheesecake? After delivering dessert to the patrons, Trump reminds them that tuxedos are worn by the corporate executives who have committed to new investments in the U.S. totaling $11 trillion.

. The Slop Factory on the Cheesecake Factory

The White House social-media team, after celebrating the Cheesecake Factory as a “great American institution,” teased a Tuesday afternoon “surprise” on X — which ended up being a low-energy troll with a live loop of an AI-generated cartoon Trump waving to people in front of a Cheesecake Factory, set to down-tempo music and accompanied by what looks like a Google doc of anti-DEI talking points:

On Monday, the team made a different piggybacking attempt:

Since we're talking about The Cheesecake Factory... The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump's accomplishments. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/BlHasOVhyB— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 26, 2026

Since we're talking about The Cheesecake Factory... The only thing bigger than the menu is the list of President Trump's accomplishments. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/BlHasOVhyB

. “This is about the Democrats not being able to appreciate beauty”

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to change the subject Tuesday:

Karoline Leavitt: This is not about the Cheesecake Factory. This is about the Democrats not being able to appreciate beauty. pic.twitter.com/avGOJYhlRO— FactPost (@factpostnews) October 27, 2026

Karoline Leavitt: This is not about the Cheesecake Factory. This is about the Democrats not being able to appreciate beauty. pic.twitter.com/avGOJYhlRO

. Obama wishes his Oval Office looked as gold as Trump’s

See for yourself, this Trump-endorsed author says:

President Trump’s Oval Office puts Barack Obama’s Oval Office to shame. pic.twitter.com/ch5ZeDH7Ak— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) October 27, 2026

President Trump’s Oval Office puts Barack Obama’s Oval Office to shame. pic.twitter.com/ch5ZeDH7Ak

. Longtime Cheesecake Factory designer rejects comparison to gold-covered White House

CNN spoke with the chain restaurant’s former vice-president of design, Rick McCormack:

“I think it’s a little bit sad that the pettiness of politics would create that sound bite, knowing all our challenges going on in the country today …”“Cheesecake wasn’t covered with gold appliqués and things like that. It really is two different environments,” McCormack said. “It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, this has shiny things on the wall. Cheesecake has shiny things in it. Let’s compare the two,’ but that’s to someone who really is not knowing what they’re talking about.”

“I think it’s a little bit sad that the pettiness of politics would create that sound bite, knowing all our challenges going on in the country today …”

“Cheesecake wasn’t covered with gold appliqués and things like........

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