Donald Trump has claimed a recent DoorDash stunt at the White House was the ‘biggest ever on Google’, but it appears the president is mistaken.
Earlier this week, the president invited DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons into the Oval Office, where she arrived with McDonald’s cheeseburgers and fries for Trump and staff.
Simmons, a grandmother of ten from Fayetteville, Arkansas, made the delivery as part of a DoorDash promotional moment tied to the Senate-approved “No Tax on Tips” effort, which is designed to reduce the impact of federal income taxes on tip earnings.
She has previously said she earned $11,000 in tips last year, money that helped cover her husband’s cancer treatment.
Although the visit had a personal backdrop, Trump suggested he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the optics — even as he praised what he believed was its online impact.
Speaking at an event in Las Vegas on Thursday (April 16), the president said: “Sharon delivered McDonald’s to the Oval Office. It was a little bit of a… you know, I mean, to be honest, it was a little tacky.
“You know, they come up with these crazy ideas like McDonald’s, although that was the biggest ever on Google, they say, number one ever. And the, the, uh, garbage truck. I mean, we do these things in politics. They’re a little embarrassing.”
However, search-ranking data compiled by Semrush indicates that a range of other topics and platforms — including YouTube, ChatGPT, Facebook, and Instagram — have drawn higher search interest than the DoorDash moment.
After her brief White House stop, Simmons also received a $100 tip from Trump. She later spoke to DoorDash’s media team, describing the trip to Washington as an “incredible honor” while reflecting on what flexible delivery work has meant for her family.
“Thanks to DoorDash, I have been able to provide for my family while keeping the schedule that works best for me, something I never thought would be possible,” she said.
“Now No Tax on Tips has taken things to the next level, letting me keep more of the tips I earn and deserve.”
In a separate press release, the White House said more than 5.5 million Americans have already claimed “No tax on tips.”
While the measure does not entirely remove taxes on tips, it allows eligible workers to deduct up to $25,000 of tip income per year for a limited period, according to reporting by The Guardian.
The White House also stated that those who have used the policy so far have received an average deduction of more than $7,100.