The world’s most famous DoorDash Grandma has good instincts.

As you may have seen, Sharon Simmons was the human prop on Monday for a little skit on behalf of the president’s “no tax on tips” concept. You probably also saw her sidestep the president’s attempt to drag her into an anti-trans-athlete bit along the way.

And perhaps you know that the president tipped her $100 for her efforts. But according to the AP, that largesse only came after a couple of entertaining exchanges.

The president eventually asked Simmons: “I think you voted for me. Do you think?” To which she responded, “Um, maybe.”

When a reporter later asked if the White House was a good tipper, Simmons hesitated: “Um … potentially.”

Only then, artfully backed into a corner in front of the press, did Trump attempt to save face and reach for the Benjamin. I’d like to think that reporter knew darn well that she hadn’t been tipped yet.

Those egg-in-face moments must have chagrined the president, especially since Mrs. Simmons was no random local driver. She lives in Nevada. She was brought in for this bit. She’s no stranger to GOP theater, either: A former resident of the Missouri district represented by House Ways and Means chairman, Simmons submitted testimony to Congress last year in support of this bill.

So, How Much Tax Is “No Tax,” Anyway?
More than you’d expect. A few things about this provision that no White House PR stunt will include:

Workers who qualify must still report their tips on their income taxes. Assuming that they were, you know, reporting all their tips in the first place. Because all tipped employees report all their tips.

Payroll / Social Security / Medicare taxes still apply to those tips.

State taxes still apply to those tips.

It doesn’t help the poorest workers at all, because they already aren’t paying tax on income.

The deduction expires in 2028.

And yet, none of those fat asterisks gets to the heart what this policy stunt really does:

Drives down tax revenue, following the GOP tradition of cutting taxes, raising debt, and citing the debt as a reason to further cut services.

Acts as a handout to donors corporations who appreciate the buffer against simply paying better wages at a time when profits are good and affordability is bad.

Give a marketing fig leaf to an administration that has relentlessly and creatively worked to raise prices for the working class.

When it comes to this president, today’s gimmick was par for the course. What’s in it for anyone else (who isn’t already rich) is reliably less than meets the eye. Don’t ask questions, don’t scratch the surface. It’s always about the shiny object — never gold, always gold-plated. That’s a tip you can count on.