DoorDash defended a planned White House "special delivery" after social media users suggested the featured driver, Sharon Simmons, had been placed there by Republicans. A DoorDash public affairs representative, Julian Crowley, said Simmons legitimately testified in favor of the "No Tax On Tips" policy in 2025 and that the appearance was organized to mark the policy's start. Crowley rejected claims she was an actor or prop and noted the event was never presented as an actual delivery. During the visit, President Trump also discussed unrelated topics, and Simmons declined to answer a question about trans athletes.
DoorDash Defends Planned White House 'Special Delivery' After Social Media Accusations
DoorDash defended a planned White House photo opportunity after critics suggested the driver featured in the event was a Republican plant.
On Monday, DoorDash driver Sharon Simmons arrived at the White House carrying a McDonald's order for a staged "special delivery" with President Donald Trump. The appearance was arranged to highlight the no-tax-on-tips provision in the administration's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill."
Soon after the event, social media users dug into Simmons's background and shared posts showing that she had testified at a Republican-led hearing in Nevada in 2025, where she expressed support for the policy because of its potential tax relief. Those posts prompted some observers to suggest the company or the GOP had placed Simmons at the event.
Julian Crowley, a DoorDash Public Affairs representative, pushed back on those claims in multiple responses on social media. He noted that Simmons had indeed testified in support of the "No Tax On Tips" proposal — which Crowley said had bipartisan support and had "passed the Senate unanimously" — and asked whether it was unreasonable that the same person could later move and participate in a planned event marking the policy.
"Yes, testifying for No Tax on Tips which has bipartisan support and passed the Senate unanimously," Crowley wrote. "Is it really so hard to believe that the same person moved states and then participated in a special delivery to mark the policy she testified in support of?"
Crowley also emphasized that DoorDash never presented the appearance as a regular delivery, calling it a "special delivery to mark a policy that has bipartisan support with the media in attendance." Responding to critics who called Simmons a "prop, plant or an actor," he wrote:
No one is claiming it was a real delivery. It was clearly and obviously a planned event to mark a new policy starting. To claim Sharon is a prop, plant or an actor is totally wrong and off base. She is a Dasher and she participated to support the policy that benefits her.
At the event, President Trump spoke to reporters about other issues, including the war in Iran and questions related to trans athletes. When Trump asked Simmons about the latter, she declined to answer directly, saying she was there to celebrate the no-tax-on-tips policy.
The original story appeared on Mediaite.
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