When it comes to desserts, Donald Trump thinks his takes the cake ― to the point he bragged about it while talking about a missile strike in Syria.
Many viewers were left dumbfounded after the president’s bizarre narration, in which he described informing China’s president that the U.S. bombed a Syrian airstrip as the two ate “the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you’ve ever seen” during dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate last week.
Why Trump thinks the quality of cake is relevant to the rundown of this serious event, we cannot guess, except to note he loves promoting Mar-a-Lago. It’s also unclear if he was referring to the chocolate cake below that appears to have been served at Mar-a-Lago since at least 2015, or some singular creation (the night’s menu lists chocolate cake with vanilla sauce and dark chocolate sorbet, but Mar-a-Lago didn’t respond to an inquiry about specifics).
However, we do know that “most beautiful... you’ve ever seen” is a pretty bold declaration, considering all the gorgeous cakes in the world. Let’s do a little comparing, shall we?
Here’s the chocolate cake served in Mar-a-Lago’s dining room...
This slice fits the description, so let’s just assume the cake Trump referred to probably looked somewhat similar, the work of the same pastry chefs.
...and here are a few celebrated cakes from other kitchens.
A much-celebrated chocolate mousse cake by Dominique Ansel, who was recently named the world’s best pastry chef:
Lady M’s Couronne du Chocolat, which is Vogue-approved as one of the “chicest chocolate cakes in New York”:
The ridiculously moist souffle cake at New York institution Sarabeths:
The chocolate cake from Sweet Lady Jane, named one of the best chocolate cakes in L.A.:
This baby from Little Cupcake Bakeshop, named to Food & Wine’s list of best chocolate cakes in the U.S.:
Francois Payard’s signature Louvre Dome Cake, also a Food & Wine fave:
...and the mini versions!
A multi-tiered glory from Momofuku Milk Bar:
The salted caramel chocolate cake at Republique, aka L.A.’s second-best slice, according to LA Weekly:
The impossibly oozy warm chocolate cake by Jean-Georges:
And Lady M’s chocolate mille crêpes, a layered chart-topper:
Who’s the fairest of them all? Let us know.