Former President Donald Trump recently made an unexpected campaign stop Saturday at Tony and Nick’s Steaks in South Philadelphia before a rally at Temple University in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania via Fox Business.
It has been noted that Trump reportedly made quite an impression not just from a $500 tip, but also by writing “no taxes on tips” on the receipt. The former president has campaigned recently to end taxation on tips for those in the service industries.
“It was just unbelievable,” Nicky Lucidonio, owner of Tony and Nick’s Steaks, shared with Fox News Digital. “He was talking to people, you know, they’re asking questions. He’s answering them. He’s signing hats. He signed and everything.
“We’re all taking pictures with him. What a great man, you know. We’re all here rooting for him. You know, this November, we gotta get him in.”
A prepaid order and generous tip by the former president wasn’t the only surprise Trump had in store for his visit to Tony and Nick’s. Trump polled the crowd, “Who do you like as VP?”
One bystander shouted, “JD Vance!” and Trump replied, “You like JD?”
It seems that the impact of Trump’s visit to Tony and Nick’s underscores issues that countless small business owners across the country are currently facing.
Lucidonio expressed his frustration at taxation on restaurant worker tips, stating, “You know, people have to wonder. They’re working in 100-degree weather in there.”
“People put tips in our jar, you know, and then to tax those tips that these poor people live day-by-day is a joke. I mean, what else do you want to tax? It’s crazy,” he continued. “I mean, we go, we do all the hard work, we’re out there, and it’s 15, 20 hours a day working hard for our families.
“They just come and say, well, that’s half is mine. It’s ridiculous. The middle class is getting killed. We got to do something about it.”
President Trump left a $500 tip for the staff at his Philly stop at Tony & Nicks Steak.
After he wins they won't even have to pay tax on it 👊
Vote Trump!
No tax on tips! pic.twitter.com/cLClrpGIOE— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) June 23, 2024
