It's like Saddam Hussein opened a restaurant there." Barack Obama criticized Trump's renovation of the White House "I don't know if you've noticed, but he seems very passionate about renovating houses. He should be on HGTV,” Barack Obama said during a campaign appearance in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor. According to Obama, the White House now "looks like Saddam Hussein opened the Cheesecake Factory there" (a large American restaurant chain known for its flamboyant interiors).