The Cheesecake Factory is one of the top searches in the country after a punchline from former President Barack Obama took off online and drew a response from the man who helped design the restaurant chain's famous look.

Speaking to Democrats at a midterm rally in Cleveland on Saturday, Obama poked fun at the gold accents added to the White House. "There's gold everywhere," he said. "He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."

The crowd laughed and the clip spread fast. President Trump defended his renovations on Monday and told reporters the comparison showed why Obama was a lousy president, according to CNN.

The designer weighs in

Rick McCormack, the chain's former longtime vice president of design, told CNN he did not find the joke funny. "I think it's a little bit sad that the pettiness of politics would create that sound bite, knowing all our challenges going on in the country today," he said.

The Cheesecake Factory's interiors are known for columns, warm lighting and big decorative ceilings. McCormack helped shape that style across the chain's restaurants.

Business as usual

The Wall Street Journal reported that the chain is doing just fine without wading into the political back-and-forth. The company has not taken a side in the online debate over whether the quip was elitist.