On April 13, 2026, the White House staged a publicity event where 58-year-old DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons delivered McDonald's to the Oval Office to promote Trump's “no tax on tips” policy. But Trump repeatedly derailed his own event by pressing Simmons on unrelated topics.
During the photo-op, Trump abruptly asked: “Do you think that men should play in women's sports?” Simmons responded plainly: “I really don't have an opinion on that.” Trump pressed: “You do!” Simmons held firm: “No. I'm here about no tax on tips.” The Human Rights Campaign responded: “Sir, this is a Wendy's.”
Trump also asked if she voted for him. She hedged: “Uh, maybe.” He joked, “This doesn't look staged, does it?” — despite the fact that Simmons had previously testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in July 2025 for Republicans, DoorDash confirmed the delivery was a coordinated PR event, and Simmons required White House security clearance to access the grounds.
Gov. Gavin Newsom pointed out that Trump — “a convicted felon who has also been found liable for sexual abuse — is ineligible to be a delivery driver on most apps. But somehow he's our president.” NAACP President Derrick Johnson called it “theatrics,” saying: “Working people aren't saving any money under Trump, they're bleeding out while billionaires continue to rake in more wealth.”
The Yale Budget Lab noted over one-third of tipped workers earn too little to benefit from the deduction at all.