President Trump discusses political issues with DoorDash driver after delivery
After delivering McDonald’s to the Oval Office, President Donald Trump spoke to a DoorDash driver about her husband’s health and the tax exemption.
Monday’s delivery to the White House was not the first political appearance for “DoorDash Grandma” Sharon Simmons, who previously attracted attention from Republican lawmakers in several states.
Simmons was asked Monday if he voted for President Trump, to which the president replied, “I hear you’re a great supporter.” Simmons did not admit that she voted for Trump, saying only that she “probably” did.
She appears to have some loyalty to the Republican Party and has been used by other Republicans to highlight President Trump’s “tip tax exemption” initiative passed last year.
Here’s what we know:
Was DoorDash Grandma a MAGA plant?
It’s unclear why Simmons, an Arkansas native, was chosen to deliver food to the White House during Monday’s photo shoot, but she has previously been vocal about her support for President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Speaking at a Nevada Ways and Means Committee hearing in July 2025, he said the bill would “allow me to stay more connected to my family,” and told lawmakers it would “help my future.”
“Her story is just one of thousands across the country who have found financial relief thanks to the @HouseGOP,” said Rep. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) while sharing the video.
Days before his White House visit, Simmons appeared in a video shared on social media by Missouri Republican Jason Smith promoting the same message he later gave at the White House.
“This is important because so many times independent contractors are excluded, so the fact that this includes us, I think is great for us as delivery drivers,” Simmons said of the bill.
Smith’s video said he lived in Missouri, and a 2025 video said he lived in Nevada, but a DoorDash spokesperson said he recently moved to Arkansas.
DoorDash denied online speculation that Simmons was a MAGA prop.
“No one is claiming that this was a real delivery,” DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said in a post on X. “This was clearly a planned event to mark the start of a new policy. To claim that Sharon is a prop, a plant, an actor is completely wrong and off base. She is a Dasher, and she participated to support policies that benefited her.”
Why was Sharon Simmons in the White House?
According to DoorDash, Simmons has been working at breakneck speed since 2022 and has completed more than 14,000 deliveries to date.
She said President Trump’s “No Tax, No Tip” initiative, passed a year ago Monday, saved thousands of lives as her husband battled cancer.
Trump gave Simmons a $100 tip, and as he stood next to her at a press conference, Trump asked her if she supported transgender athletes in women’s sports.
“I really don’t have an opinion on that,” Simmons replied. “I’m here about the tax exemption on tips.”
