Dave Portnoy says he would ‘absolutely’ vote for Dems if economy doesn’t settle amid Trump’s tariff war
By Emily Crane
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy admitted he would “absolutely” vote for the Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections if President Trump continues to rattle the economy with his sweeping tariff war.
The 48-year-old, who voted for Trump in the last election, told CNN Wednesday that he would still give the commander-in-chief a chance to prove his sweeping levies — but wouldn’t rule out jumping ship if the stock market continues to flounder.
Asked if he’d be willing to ditch the GOP if the market doesn’t improve, Portnoy responded: “Yeah, absolutely.”
Dave Portnoy on CNN
3
Portnoy made the revelation on CNN Wednesday.
CNN
“I was never some crazy MAGA guy,” the Barstool honcho added.
“It’s uncomfortable anytime the stock market is like this and you’re invested in it, it’s certainly uncomfortable. But I stand with it,” he added.
Explore More
Judge rules against 'appalling' private school that suspended student for waiting to report classmate with bullet until exam ended
Videos show wild scenes leading to rock star's wife being shot by cops, charged with attempted murder — starting with hit-and-run
Bahamas officials reveal US tourist's cause of death after body found on beach
“You know, he ran on tariffs. He said he was a tariff fan. And I don’t pretend to be an economist. I don’t think I realized that we’d have this market crash. I don’t think most people did.”
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025.
REUTERS
The sports pundit predicted the midterms would be a deciding factor for many.
“I think he believes in what he’s doing and trying to basically strong-arm China and get better deals for the US. I’m willing to still give him time,” he said.
“I think the big date is the midterms, which is a long time out. But I do think that in this country, the number one issue, no matter what is going on, is the economy. And if the stock market doesn’t show some signs of rebound or rebounding by then, I think people will speak with their vote.”
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the opening bell on April 9, 2025, in New York City.
AFP via Getty Images
The only way to access Joel Sherman’s columns and full expert coverage.Try it free
The clock is ticking on Brett Baty’s Mets career
How Trent Grisham is turning these Yankees worries upside down
Mets set to be heavily impacted by quartet of stars with tricky player options
Portnoy has revealed he lost a staggering $7 million in stocks and crypto in the initial market plunge following Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement.
Days later, Portnoy estimated the toll to be likely closer to $20 million — up to 15% of his net worth.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings