- Oct 29
Obama's Cheesecake Factory jibe over Trump's White House renovations fuels midterm row
Obama compared Trump's White House makeover to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein, prompting charges of elitism, a Treasury lunch at the chain and a fresh round of mockery ahead of the 3 November midterms.
- Oct 24
Trump calls Obama 'stupid' after jibe over gold-trimmed White House renovation
Donald Trump called Barack Obama stupid on Monday, 26 October 2026, after Obama joked that the White House looked like Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory. Trump defended the renovation from Joint Base Andrews and at a Mississippi rally, weeks before the 3 November midterms.
- Sep 27
US and coalition troops complete Iraq withdrawal after 12-year anti-ISIS mission
The United States and coalition partners concluded Operation Inherent Resolve on September 30, ending foreign military presence at Erbil Air Base and handing full security control to Baghdad.
