US President Donald Trump tips Sharon Simmons after receiving a DoorDash delivery of McDonald's during an event outside the Oval Office of the White House on April 13, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Trump's DoorDash Grandma 'No Tax on Tips' Stunt Was Beyond Tacky
The staged photo op was actually a good reminder of the gap between the White House’s rhetoric and reality.
There is little doubt that most of the benefits of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act flow to the wealthy. But the White House has put considerable effort into promoting the idea that the law benefits working class people too, in particular those who earn tips.
To drive that point home, they staged an April 13 photo op with a DoorDash delivery to the White House. But the stunt was actually a good reminder of the gap between the White House’s rhetoric and reality.
First, it helps to understand that the "no tax on tips" policy applies to very few workers; less than 3% of workers are tipped. And its effects are even narrower than that. The policy is actually a deduction (topping out at $25,000) that can be claimed by tipped workers to lower their taxable income. But many tipped workers—about 1 in 3, or possibly close to 40%—do not earn enough to file taxes, so this deduction does them no good.
Now on to the White House event. When DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons "delivered" his McDonald’s order, President Trump commented that she “picked up an extra $11,000” because of the new policy. As Paul Waldman (and others) noted, this was mathematically dubious, given the $25,000 cap on the deduction. Indeed, Simmons would later explain that she earned $11,000 in tips, not that she saved that amount of money on her taxes. How much she saved on her taxes is unclear; by one high-end estimate, if she were paying a 24% tax rate she would have saved just $2,640.
If the goal of these kinds of policies are to provide some relief for workers—especially those earning a low wage—there are plenty of other options that would apply more broadly. Raising the minimum wage, for example, or eliminating the subminimum "tipped" wage would put more money in more workers’ pockets.
Speaking just after the White House photo op—and at a different "no tax on tips" event—Trump said the photo op was “a little tacky.” Given that Simmons is making DoorDash deliveries to pay for her husband’s cancer treatments, and the fact that his signature tax cut bill slashes food assistance and will cause millions to lose their health insurance coverage, "tacky" is an understatement.
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This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
There is little doubt that most of the benefits of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act flow to the wealthy. But the White House has put considerable effort into promoting the idea that the law benefits working class people too, in particular those who earn tips.
To drive that point home, they staged an April 13 photo op with a DoorDash delivery to the White House. But the stunt was actually a good reminder of the gap between the White House’s rhetoric and reality.
First, it helps to understand that the "no tax on tips" policy applies to very few workers; less than 3% of workers are tipped. And its effects are even narrower than that. The policy is actually a deduction (topping out at $25,000) that can be claimed by tipped workers to lower their taxable income. But many tipped workers—about 1 in 3, or possibly close to 40%—do not earn enough to file taxes, so this deduction does them no good.
Now on to the White House event. When DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons "delivered" his McDonald’s order, President Trump commented that she “picked up an extra $11,000” because of the new policy. As Paul Waldman (and others) noted, this was mathematically dubious, given the $25,000 cap on the deduction. Indeed, Simmons would later explain that she earned $11,000 in tips, not that she saved that amount of money on her taxes. How much she saved on her taxes is unclear; by one high-end estimate, if she were paying a 24% tax rate she would have saved just $2,640.
If the goal of these kinds of policies are to provide some relief for workers—especially those earning a low wage—there are plenty of other options that would apply more broadly. Raising the minimum wage, for example, or eliminating the subminimum "tipped" wage would put more money in more workers’ pockets.
Speaking just after the White House photo op—and at a different "no tax on tips" event—Trump said the photo op was “a little tacky.” Given that Simmons is making DoorDash deliveries to pay for her husband’s cancer treatments, and the fact that his signature tax cut bill slashes food assistance and will cause millions to lose their health insurance coverage, "tacky" is an understatement.
- No Tax on Tips? Democrats Could Learn Something From Effective GOP Pandering to the Working Class ›
- Senate-Passed No Tax on Tips Bill a 'Distraction From the Real Fight' ›
- Experts Explain Why 'No Taxes on Tips' Is Not What Tipped Workers Need ›
- This Tax Season Proved 'No Tax on Tips' Was Never for Workers ›
- DoorDash Grandma Delivering to Trump Doesn't Change That No Tax on Tips Is a 'Deceptive Ploy' ›
There is little doubt that most of the benefits of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act flow to the wealthy. But the White House has put considerable effort into promoting the idea that the law benefits working class people too, in particular those who earn tips.
To drive that point home, they staged an April 13 photo op with a DoorDash delivery to the White House. But the stunt was actually a good reminder of the gap between the White House’s rhetoric and reality.
First, it helps to understand that the "no tax on tips" policy applies to very few workers; less than 3% of workers are tipped. And its effects are even narrower than that. The policy is actually a deduction (topping out at $25,000) that can be claimed by tipped workers to lower their taxable income. But many tipped workers—about 1 in 3, or possibly close to 40%—do not earn enough to file taxes, so this deduction does them no good.
Now on to the White House event. When DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons "delivered" his McDonald’s order, President Trump commented that she “picked up an extra $11,000” because of the new policy. As Paul Waldman (and others) noted, this was mathematically dubious, given the $25,000 cap on the deduction. Indeed, Simmons would later explain that she earned $11,000 in tips, not that she saved that amount of money on her taxes. How much she saved on her taxes is unclear; by one high-end estimate, if she were paying a 24% tax rate she would have saved just $2,640.
If the goal of these kinds of policies are to provide some relief for workers—especially those earning a low wage—there are plenty of other options that would apply more broadly. Raising the minimum wage, for example, or eliminating the subminimum "tipped" wage would put more money in more workers’ pockets.
Speaking just after the White House photo op—and at a different "no tax on tips" event—Trump said the photo op was “a little tacky.” Given that Simmons is making DoorDash deliveries to pay for her husband’s cancer treatments, and the fact that his signature tax cut bill slashes food assistance and will cause millions to lose their health insurance coverage, "tacky" is an understatement.
- No Tax on Tips? Democrats Could Learn Something From Effective GOP Pandering to the Working Class ›
- Senate-Passed No Tax on Tips Bill a 'Distraction From the Real Fight' ›
- Experts Explain Why 'No Taxes on Tips' Is Not What Tipped Workers Need ›
- This Tax Season Proved 'No Tax on Tips' Was Never for Workers ›
- DoorDash Grandma Delivering to Trump Doesn't Change That No Tax on Tips Is a 'Deceptive Ploy' ›