President Donald Trump had two luggage of McDonald’s delivered to the Oval Office on Monday by a DoorDash driver he tipped $100, utilizing his favourite meals and a actuality TV flourish to promote a tax coverage he says has meant large rebates for Americans who earn gratuities.
Sharon Simmons, wearing a “DoorDash Grandma” T-shirt, walked up to the Oval Office’s exterior door and knocked as media cameras rolled. Trump popped out and stated, “Hello. Nice to see you,” earlier than proclaiming, “Look at this!” after which, glancing towards a pack of close by reporters, providing, “This doesn’t look staged, does it?”
It was, after all. Making it onto the White House grounds alone requires acquiring prior permission and passing by way of safety, whereas accessing the Oval Office — not to point out getting so shut to the president — would have been inconceivable with out extra screenings and background checks.
Still, the White House has tried to name extra consideration to a chunk of the Trump-backed tax and spend package approved final summer time that enables Americans to quickly deduct some federal taxes from earnings earned on tips. It lets sure staff deduct up to $25,000, however phases out for these with higher incomes.
Officials are intensifying the publicity effort ahead of Tax Day on Wednesday — whilst the problem has been overshadowed for weeks by the battle in Iran that has raised gasoline costs and spooked monetary markets, and extra instantly by Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV.
McDonald’s is a longtime favourite of the president — and fare he is used to political ends earlier than.
He famously ordered it, together with huge piles of different quick meals, to serve the visiting NCAA soccer champion Clemson Tigers in 2019 throughout his first time period, when a authorities shutdown had decreased White House kitchen employees. Trump additionally staged probably the most memorable stops of his profitable 2024 reelection marketing campaign by visiting a Pennsylvania McDonald’s restaurant, the place he labored the fry station and took reporters’ questions from the drive-thru window.
On Monday, Simmons, who DoorDash stated was from Arkansas, recounted how the tax modifications had helped her obtain $11,000 that she wouldn’t have in any other case gotten, which she stated was particularly essential as her husband battled most cancers.
Trump then requested, “Would you want to perform a little information convention with me?” and had her stand awkwardly beside him as he took questions on his threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and his refusal to apologize to Pope Leo.
The president finally requested Simmons: “I think you voted for me. Do you think?” To which she responded, “Um, maybe.” Undaunted, Trump continued: “I heard you’re a great supporter. We appreciate it.”
When a reporter later requested if the White House was a very good tipper, Simmons hesitated: “Um … potentially.”
“Wait,” Trump crowed, reaching into his pocket for a $100 invoice and handing it to Simmons with a smile. She took the cash, laughed and completed, “Yes, very,” because the president patted her on the again and beamed.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP through Getty Images
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP through Getty Images President Donald Trump tips DoorDash supply employee Sharon Simmons after she delivered McDonald’s to the Oval Office on the White House, in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2026.
Trump once more turned to Simmons a couple of minutes later and pressed her on if she believes “men should play in women’s sports” — a frequent matter of his as he blasts Democrats for being too supportive of transgender rights.
“I really don’t have an opinion on that,” Simmons replied, prompting Trump to push, “I’ll bet you do.”
“No, no,” she insisted. “I’m here about no tax on tips.”
The White House later stated that Trump personally delivered the meals — consisting of cheeseburgers and fries — to West Wing employees.
It did not say if he obtained a tip for doing so.
President Donald Trump stated he did submit an AI picture to his social media accounts however thought it was depicting him “as a doctor” and never as Jesus.
