Trump Admits Viral $100 DoorDash Tip Video Was ‘Tacky’ After Internet Backlash

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 12:11 IST

The US President reacts to the widely shared “DoorDash Grandma” clip that sparked mixed reactions online, What started as a policy promotion quickly turned into a viral moment.

A viral video showing Donald Trump handing a $100 tip to a DoorDash delivery worker inside the White House has taken over social media, but even he now admits it didn’t quite land the way it was meant to.

Speaking at a roundtable in Las Vegas, Trump addressed the moment directly, calling it “a little tacky" and “a little embarrassing," acknowledging the awkwardness behind a clip that has been widely shared and debated online.

The video itself shows a staged delivery of McDonald’s to the Oval Office, part of an attempt to promote his “no tax on tips" policy. A delivery worker, wearing a “DoorDash Grandma" shirt, arrives with the order as cameras roll.

Trump plays along, inviting her into the Oval Office and even suggesting a quick press interaction. At one point, he jokes, “This doesn’t look staged, does it?" a line that only added to the internet’s reaction once the clip began circulating.

The moment that really took off was the tip.

After talking about the policy and linking it to her earnings, Trump reaches into his pocket and hands her $100 in cash, saying, “Thank you, you reminded me."

The interaction doesn’t stop there. He goes on to ask her personal questions, including her views on political issues and whether she voted for him, while she tries to steer the conversation back to the topic of tips.

That mix of staged setup and unscripted moments is exactly what pushed the video into viral territory.

The White House later said the delivery was part of a broader effort to highlight the benefits of the “no tax on tips" policy, especially around Tax Day.

But online, the reactions have been split.

Some saw it as a clever way to communicate policy. Others called it forced, pointing to how scripted parts of the interaction felt, especially with cameras already in place.

The timing hasn’t helped either. With the ongoing US-Iran tensions and rising fuel prices dominating headlines, the clip ended up feeling out of sync with larger concerns.

Trump himself seems to recognise that.

Calling it “one of those things in politics," he suggested that while these moments may feel awkward, they are part of how campaigns and messaging work.

Still, the video has done what it was supposed to do in one sense. It got attention. Just not entirely in the way it was planned.

News viral Trump Admits Viral $100 DoorDash Tip Video Was ‘Tacky’ After Internet Backlash

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