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WASHINGTON — President Trump fired back Monday at Barack Obama’s weekend jab comparing Trump’s White House renovations to a branch of The Cheesecake Factory, claiming his predecessor did not take proper care of the historic residence.
“For you to say it’s a Cheesecake Factory — that just shows why you were a lousy president,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing on a campaign trip to Mississippi.
“We have to explain that to Obama because he doesn’t understand it because he’s not a smart guy,” Trump said. “He’s not smart at all because of the way he ran the country. Only a stupid person would run the country like that.”
The president also claimed Obama allowed the White House to fall into disrepair during his eight years in office.
“He doesn’t notice dirt and filth that hadn’t been cleaned, where the walls hadn’t been cleaned for years. He doesn’t notice areas that haven’t been painted,” Trump said.
“Guys like Obama don’t see it. You don’t see dirt. He doesn’t see filth. He doesn’t see broken ornaments on a building.”
Trump defended his renovation work — which has included tearing down the East Wing to build a ballroom, repairing and repainting the North Portico columns of the residence, paving over the Rose Garden and blinging out the Oval Office in gold wall fixtures — as necessary for proper upkeep.
“I’ve taken care of the White House. I fixed it with the finest artisans in the world,” he said. “We have to explain to Obama that the White House is a symbol of America, and it has to be maintained properly.”
Obama, while campaigning for Democrats in Ohio Saturday, told supporters Trump “should be on HGTV” due to his focus on construction.
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” added the 44th president.
