Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has openly criticized President Donald Trump’s attempts to shift blame for the current state of the U.S. economy. In a social media post, he remarked, “Don’t piss on my back and tell me it’s raining.”
His comments came in response to a report from the Commerce Department revealing that the U.S. gross domestic product shrank by 0.3% during the first quarter of 2025, marking the first economic contraction since that year.
As Trump celebrated his 100 days in his second term, he put forth the argument that the lingering impacts of Joe Biden’s presidency were to blame for the downturn.
“This is not Trump’s stock market; it’s Biden’s stock market. It didn’t take shape until January 20th,” Trump asserted.
He mentioned that tariffs would soon have an impact and that American businesses were moving back home in record numbers, insisting that the economic situation had nothing to do with tariffs.
However, Portnoy, who had previously supported Trump, wasn’t buying it.
Sharing a screenshot of Trump’s message on X, he noted, “What’s that old saying? You can’t say it’s raining while you’re peeing on my back? Well, that applies here. The stock market is a direct reflection of Trump’s first 100 days.”
Despite his past backing of Trump, Portnoy has voiced growing discontent, particularly as his investments have suffered in the fluctuating market and due to the administration’s tariff policies.
Earlier in April, he revealed a staggering loss of nearly $7 million, which he later clarified to account for about 20% of his net worth—an estimated $20 million.
“I really don’t get these tariffs,” he stated during an episode of “The Devastation of Barstool,” where he criticized Trump for playing golf in Florida while the markets were struggling.
Still, the frustration hasn’t entirely overshadowed his interactions with Trump. At UFC 314 in Miami on April 12th, he shared a brief, friendly moment with the President, who was present with his grandchildren.
Portnoy mentioned that he waved to Trump and admired his position on water pressure.
Meanwhile, Trump’s appeal for patience comes amid reports that mark his 100-day milestone as one of the worst in history for the Dow Jones and S&P 500 since the Nixon administration.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s approval rating at just 39%, with 72% of participants believing his economic policies might lead to a recession.
Notably, even a significant portion of Republicans, 51%, expressed fears that Trump’s strategies could worsen the economic situation.
Additionally, public sentiment around tariffs is broadly unfavorable, with 64% disapproving of Trump’s approach.
As market instability persists and political tensions escalate, Portnoy’s remarks resonate with discontent among former Trump supporters and conservative voters.
The White House has been invited to comment on this situation.
