President Trump handed a $100 cash tip to a DoorDash delivery driver at the White House. The driver had delivered two bags of McDonald’s meals to the West Wing and was then led into the Oval Office.
The delivery woman was identified by the company as Sharon Simmons. She delivered Trump’s favorite fast-food meal to the US president from the colonnade outside the West Wing of the White House. “This doesn’t look like it was planned in advance,” Trump joked, using the opportunity to promote his “ticket tax exemption” policy, which comes just two days before the 2025 tax filing deadline for most Americans.
“Eliminating the tip tax is a very special thing, very special,” Trump said. When asked if he would give a generous tip, Trump reached into his pocket, took out a $100 bill, and handed it to the other person. “Yes,” Simmons replied.
That day, Simmons wore a red T-shirt that read “Grandma DoorDash” and told Trump that the meal she delivered was “your favorite.” The White House said the meals included cheeseburgers and fries, adding that the food was then personally delivered by the president to the West Wing for staff to enjoy. Trump has previously stated publicly that his preferred McDonald’s items include Fish Fillet, Big Mac, fries, and chocolate milkshake.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump briefly worked as a “fries’ man” and drive-thru at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, drawing attention. In addition, during his first term, he provided meals for the Clemson University football team, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King.
Simmons, a grandmother of 10 from Arkansas, said she earned about $11,000 in delivery tips last year to help support her family. Since joining DoorDash in 2022, she has completed more than 14,000 deliveries. After delivering the food, Trump also invited Simmons to visit the Oval Office.
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” would exempt individuals earning less than $150,000 annually from income tax up to $25,000 in tips, but these tips would still be subject to payroll tax. The bill also provides tax deductions for overtime pay in 2025.