President Donald Trump acknowledged Thursday that a made-for-media DoorDash delivery to the White House earlier this week was “a little tacky,” even as he defended the political messaging behind it.
Speaking at a Las Vegas roundtable on April 16, Trump said the stunt—where a delivery driver handed him a McDonald’s order at the Oval Office—was part of broader efforts to promote his proposed “no tax on tips” policy, a key element of what he calls the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
“To be honest, it was a little tacky,” Trump said. “They come up with these crazy ideas… They’re a little embarrassing, but we do them and you win.”
The president’s remarks come days after DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons delivered food to the Oval Office doors on April 13, an unusual moment that drew media attention and criticism for blending governance with campaign-style theatrics. Trump joked at the time, “This doesn’t look staged,” as reporters looked on.
According to Trump, Simmons works for DoorDash to help cover her husband’s cancer treatment costs—an example he used to underscore his tax proposal. The plan aims to eliminate federal taxes on tips, a policy he argues would increase take-home income for service workers and provide larger refunds.
Simmons told the president she had already saved $11,000 under similar tax relief measures, though she declined to disclose her voting history when asked directly.
Trump leaned into the symbolism during the Las Vegas event, reiterating his claim that such gestures resonate politically despite their awkwardness. He also suggested the delivery may have been unprecedented in White House history.
“I said, ‘Is this really believable?’” Trump recalled.
The episode also intersected with broader controversies. During the same appearance, Trump defended a now-deleted AI-generated image portraying him in a Jesus-like pose, saying he viewed it instead as depicting “a doctor making people better.” He cited Simmons’ financial relief as proof of his policies’ real-world impact.
In a lighter moment, Trump invited Simmons and her husband to attend a planned UFC event at the White House on June 14, part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Simmons responded positively, noting her husband is “doing very well” during treatment.
The White House has not commented further on whether similar promotional events are planned as the administration continues to push the tax proposal through Congress.
