The Cheesecake Factory’s longtime designer claps back at Obama

Key Points:

• Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump's extensive use of gold and gilded decor in the White House, joking that it looks like "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," sparking online debate and a defense from Trump.
• Rick McCormack, former vice president of design for the Cheesecake Factory, rejected the comparison, emphasizing that the restaurant’s aesthetic is distinct from Trump's lavish White House renovations and criticizing the political pettiness behind the remark.
• McCormack detailed the origins of the Cheesecake Factory’s design, highlighting its blend of grandeur and affordability aimed at surprising diners with opulence, which differs significantly from Trump's gold-heavy style.
• He noted that rising construction costs make replicating the Cheesecake Factory’s elaborate interiors challenging today and expressed a preference for focusing on more substantive issues rather than politicizing design choices.
• McCormack acknowledged varying tastes in design and suggested that future White House occupants will likely alter the decor again, underscoring the transient nature of such aesthetic decisions.