Trump spent $175,000 on Cheesecake Factory stock. Then Barack Obama mocks his decor and the president allegedly uses a rally to defend his investment

President Trump is currently defending his personal investments after Barack Obama criticized the decor of the White House. The former president famously compared the current look of the building to a place where “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.” This jab at the aesthetic choices of the White House quickly shifted into a debate over the president’s own financial ties to the restaurant chain.

Financial disclosures show that the president bought between $35,007 and $175,000 worth of stock in the franchise throughout last year, The Daily Beast reports. These trades happened as renovations at the White House were picking up speed. The president started purchasing shares early in his first year back in office. Transactions were recorded on January 30, February 3, February 4, and February 13. Each of these specific buys was valued between $1,001 and $15,000.

The investment activity continued into the spring. On March 5 and April 8, the president bought shares worth between $15,001 and $50,000. Another purchase happened on April 10, valued between $1,001 and $15,000. Later in the year, the president sold shares worth between $15,001 and $50,000 on May 29. He sold another amount in that same range on November 24. A disclosure filed in June indicated he still held between $15,001 and $50,000 in stock as of December 31, 2025. He also received a dividend of up to $2,000.

The tension between Obama and Trump became public during a rally in Ohio.

Obama used the event to label the current administration as not serious, while also taking the shot at the interior design of the White House. The president responded to these claims during a rally in Mississippi on Monday. He defended the restaurant as a very successful business. He also called Obama “a stupid person” and “a lousy president.” Regarding the renovations, he said, “The White House represents our country, and that has to be pristine. And I would try and explain that to a guy like Obama, but he wouldn’t understand.”

Others in the political sphere weighed in on the controversy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ate at the Washington branch of the restaurant to show support. CNN commentator Scott Jennings suggested the former president was being condescending.

Meanwhile, influencer Laura Loomer defended the chain as an affordable option for many Americans. It is worth noting that the menu is not exactly low-cost. A double smash cheeseburger costs about $21, and a slice of the Original Cheesecake is $11.50.

Critics of the president argue that his financial interests often overlap with his political messaging. Brandon Weathersby, a director for the group American Bridge 21st Century, claimed the president has time to promote companies that pad his portfolio. He stated, “He may be thin-skinned when it comes to jokes at his expense, but he’s truly motivated by threats to an investment that is making him money.”

The White House has denied any impropriety regarding these investments. Spokesman Davis Ingle said the portfolio is managed by independent third-party institutions. He stated, “Neither President Trump nor any member of his family has any ability to direct, influence, or provide input regarding how the portfolio is invested or when investments are bought or sold.”

According to the White House, there are no conflicts of interest. The president also holds stakes in companies like Intel, Nvidia, and Tesla, which he has touted in the past.