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Former President Barack Obama took several shots at President Donald Trump's focus on White House renovations during a rally in Ohio on Saturday, joking that Trump "should be on HGTV" and ridiculing reports of proposed changes, including a new ballroom, a revamped Rose Garden and additional gold décor.
Obama quipped that Trump had the White House looking "like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," drawing laughter from the audience.
"What's up with the gold?" Obama joked. "There's gold everywhere."
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Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Saturday night for comment.
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Obama's remarks were notable because the former president has often avoided engaging directly with Trump in personal terms, preferring to focus on policy differences and broader concerns about American democracy. His remarks about the White House renovations represented an unusually direct jab at Trump.
The gold accents match the finishes in Trump's residences and properties, including New York's Trump Tower and his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Obama told the Democratic crowd at the rally that it seemed unlikely Trump had spent much time thinking about lowering the cost of living and gas prices, given all the focus he has placed on renovations.
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During Trump's second term, the White House has also unveiled plans for a privately funded ballroom project on the South Lawn, while changes to landscaping around the Rose Garden have drawn criticism from some preservationists and praise from supporters who say the work modernizes the executive mansion.
Obama mocked Trump's renovations by saying he had "paved over the Rose Garden" and was constructing a ballroom "bigger than the White House."
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At both of his appearances Saturday, including later Saturday in Michigan, Obama sharply criticized what he described as Trump’s corrupt leadership and accused Republican leaders of failing to hold the president accountable.
"The only thing they drained was the reflecting pool," Obama said.
Obama called this November 3 election the last chance to bring accountability to government for Trump's final two years in office.
The crowd chanted "vote, vote, vote" in response.
This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.
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