On 24 October, at a Democratic campaign rally in Cleveland, former US President Barack Obama mocked the refurbishment of the White House under Donald Trump and the excess of gold décor. He compared the style of the residence to a Cheesecake Factory allegedly opened by Saddam Hussein, and stated that the administration should focus more on the cost of living for American families.
Briefly about the main points
- Obama poked fun at the style of the refurbished White House at a rally in Cleveland.
- His main focus was on gilded decorations and large-scale construction projects.
- The former president called on the administration to pay more attention to the cost of living.
- The White House explains the works as being necessary to modernise the residence for large receptions.
- The speech formed part of the Democrats’ campaign ahead of the congressional elections.
Obama linked the refurbishment to the administration’s priorities
During the speech Obama He mentioned the construction of a large ballroom, the changes to the Rose Garden and the refurbishment of the helipad on the South Lawn. He joked that the interest Trump Such projects would be more suited to a presenter on HGTV, a television channel dedicated to home improvements, interior design and property.
It was the gold-coloured decorative elements in the rooms that drew the most ridicule from the former president. «He’s made the White House look as if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory», said Obama. The audience reacted with laughter and applause.
He linked his criticism of the design to economic issues. In Obama’s view, the Trump administration should be paying more attention to the cost of living and the problems faced by American families, rather than to projects to refurbish the presidential residence.
The ballroom and changes to the grounds of the residence
The largest project is a complex comprising ballroom, which is being built on the site of the former East Wing. According to the administration’s plans, it will cover an area of approximately 90,000 square feet; the space is intended for large official events and for hosting foreign delegations.
The White House justified the construction by stating that the existing halls are too small to host large state receptions, which is why temporary pavilions had to be erected in the past. Cultural heritage organisations object to the scale of the project and the alterations to the historic architectural complex.
In 2025, the central lawn of the Rose Garden was replaced with a stone surface for official events, whilst the rose beds around the perimeter were retained. The administration justified the refurbishment of the helipad for presidential helicopters in 2026 on the grounds of operational safety and the need to protect the lawn from powerful engines. Trump described these projects as modernisation measures intended to serve future administrations.
The speech formed part of the Democrats’ campaign in Ohio
Obama’s visit to Cleveland was part of his return to the Democrats’ active campaign ahead of the US mid-term congressional elections, scheduled for 3 November. In Ohio, he campaigned for Amy Acton, who is standing for governor, and a candidate for the Senate Sherrod Brown.
The Democrats are using the issue of the renovation as part of a broader critique of Trump’s political and economic priorities. The White House, for its part, is presenting the works as a modernisation of the presidential residence’s infrastructure.
