Dave Portnoy claims 'divisive' Trump played 'huge part' in Charlie Kirk's death

OREM, UTAH: Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy is catching major heat after saying President Donald Trump played a “huge part” in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Politics definitely has a huge part in it. Trump — and when I say Trump has a huge part in it, I don’t necessarily mean he’s to blame for it — but he’s so divisive, without even really — his face is just divisive. Like, he just — people hate him so much,” Portnoy said Thursday.

“And the left and the right, the rhetoric — especially to me the left — is insane. And it just boils, boils, boils, boils. And this happened with Trump, when, his assassination attempt, there was like a three-hour period of ‘let’s tone down the rhetoric,’ and then they’re right back to it," he added.

Portnoy has admitted to voting for Trump, though he once said it was more of an “indictment” of the Democratic Party than a love for the GOP. However, he's had a rocky history with the President. Just back in April, he ranted that Trump’s economic policies cost him a cool $20 million.

Before his eyebrow-raising comments, the "stool presidente" called Kirk’s death “one of the darkest days in American history.” He posted on X, “RIP Charlie Kirk. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics if you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history, than [sic] you are part of the problem.”

Social media torches Dave Portnoy

Regardless, Portnoy's claim that Trump played a "huge part" in the tragedy sparked a major backlash on social media.

"So let me see if I understand Davey Boy correctly. 'Donald Trump DARES to say things that the left doesn't like. If he'd just shut up and knuckle under, they wouldn't have to shoot people.' Is that what he's saying?" one posted on X.

"F**k @stoolpresidente and boycott his s**t show. Stick that barstool up your a**, you sellout. He bolstered you in the beginning, you fake f**k," a second user fumed.

"Wait, I just saw an interview on Fox News where he was saying the exact opposite. WTF? Did I misunderstand him??" another confused fan wondered.

"Sorry @DavePortnoy You lost me. THEY started this *divisive* schiff [sic], not Trump and not us. Charlie used words - they used bullets. Full stop. The end. Get lost," someone else raged.

"@stoolpresidente is still a moron. The left press made Trump 'divisive' in the same way they made Charlie 'divisive.' Go do more research puppet," read a comment.

"Trump isn't divisive. The media makes him seem that way. This is all on the media. Portnoy is a r****d," another chimed in.

More details about gunman emerge amid investigation

Law enforcement is still piecing together how Kirk, 31, was gunned down in front of a crowd of 3,000 at Utah Valley University.

Preliminary reports say the shooter’s rifle — a .30-06-caliber Mauser bolt-action — was engraved with “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” It was later found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near campus.

According to Utah public safety commissioner Beau Mason, the shooter blended in with the student crowd and appeared college-aged. Clear video footage reportedly shows a figure in dark clothing running across a rooftop at UVU in Orem, Utah.

Kirk was struck in the neck by a single high-caliber round fired from about 200 yards away. The FBI now has the rifle for DNA and fingerprint analysis, along with a shoeprint, palm print, and forearm impressions collected from the scene.

Two suspects who were initially picked up have since been released, and officials say they’ve received more than 130 tips so far.

The Utah Department of Public Safety says it’s still an “active investigation.” Utah Governor Spencer Cox didn’t mince words either, describing the attack as “believed to be a targeted assassination.”

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