{
  "id": 16415853,
  "title": "‘Like Saddam opened a Cheesecake Factory’: Obama hits out at Trump in campaign trail comeback",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/like-saddam-opened-a-cheesecake-factory-obama-hits-out-at-trump-in-16415853",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T02:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Age",
    "slug": "the-age",
    "url": "https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/like-saddam-opened-a-cheesecake-factory-obama-hits-out-at-trump-in-campaign-trail-comeback-20261025-p618di.html?ref=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Speaking at a rally in Cleveland, Ohio, former President Barack Obama criticized the Trump administration, claiming it has been \"defined by incompetence\" unseen in modern times. During his first campaign appearance ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, Obama described the administration as having caused \"two years of chaos and cruelty\" and urged voters to cast early ballots.\n\nObama specifically ridiculed President Trump's White House renovations, stating that the administration has \"got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.\" He questioned the use of gold throughout the mansion and noted additions such as a ballroom, a helicopter pad on the South Lawn, and the paving over of the Rose Garden. Beyond aesthetic choices, Obama criticized the administration regarding high consumer prices and the Iran war.\n\nDuring the rally, Obama showed support for Amy Acton in the Ohio gubernatorial race and former Senator Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican incumbent Jon Husted for a Senate seat.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Obama set to campaign with Democrats in Ohio and Michigan as he ramps up midterm efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/obama-set-to-campaign-with-democrats-in-ohio-and-michigan-as-he-ramps",
        "published": "2026-10-24T18:09:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Barack Obama to rally for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan before key US Senate race – US politics live",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/barack-obama-to-rally-for-abdul-el-sayed-in-michigan-before-key-us",
        "published": "2026-10-24T20:28:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Obama scathes Trump administration in quippy Ohio campaign rally speech",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/obama-scathes-trump-administration-in-quippy-ohio-campaign-rally",
        "published": "2026-10-24T21:13:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Obama attacks Trump as he campaigns for Democrats ahead of midterm elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/obama-attacks-trump-as-he-campaigns-for-democrats-ahead-of-midterm",
        "published": "2026-10-24T21:58:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "In Ohio rally, Obama blasts Ramaswamy, GOP over controversial Acton ad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/in-ohio-rally-obama-blasts-ramaswamy-gop-over-controversial-acton-ad",
        "published": "2026-10-25T00:34:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "‘Like Saddam opened a Cheesecake Factory’: Obama hits out at Trump in campaign trail comeback",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/like-saddam-opened-a-cheesecake-factory-obama-hits-out-at-trump-in",
        "published": "2026-10-25T02:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Obama attacks Trump as he campaigns for Democrats ahead of midterm elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/obama-attacks-trump-as-he-campaigns-for-democrats-ahead-of-midterm",
        "published": "2026-10-25T03:19:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Obama joins El-Sayed in Michigan rally cry before key midterms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/obama-joins-el-sayed-in-michigan-rally-cry-before-key-midterms",
        "published": "2026-10-25T04:06:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Obama attacks Trump as he campaigns for Democrats ahead of midterm elections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/obama-attacks-trump-as-he-campaigns-for-democrats-ahead-of-midterm-16435623",
        "published": "2026-10-25T05:25:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}