Dave Portnoy shared a friendly hug with Donald Trump at UFC 314 in Miami on Saturday, just days after hitting out at the president’s ongoing trade and tariff war.
The Barstool Sports founder was front and center at Kaseya Center as Trump arrived, and the pair shared a moment together as the president walked to his seat.
Pausing his high-profile entrance, Trump shook hands with Portnoy, before the pair shared a few words, and Portnoy then pointed to his Barstool Sports cap.
Portnoy has broadly supported Trump since the election, but also took aim at him this week over the ongoing tariff chaos wreaking havoc on the stock markets.
Portnoy has been vocal about his financial hits due to the stock market dips brought about by Trump’s controversial tariffs, and this week even revealed he’d consider ditching Trump for the Democrats if America’s economy doesn’t show major improvements soon.
He admitted last week that he ‘didn’t understand’ them, but was down a staggering $7million as a result. On Monday morning, Portnoy revealed he’d actually lost close to $20m.
Dave Portnoy and Donald Trump share a hug as the president arrives to watch UFC 314
Portnoy sat cageside with Barstool Sports colleague Robbie Fox in Miami on Saturday
He went on to say that he lost 20 percent of his net worth and slammed Trump for going golfing last weekend in Florida while the country’s economy was in turmoil.
Asked if he’d be willing to abandon Trump and the GOP, Portnoy responded: ‘Yeah, absolutely.
‘I was never some crazy MAGA guy. 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.
‘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.’
Portnoy continued: ‘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.
‘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.’
The Barstool Sports founder had earlier chatted with Shaquille O’Neal and Bruce Buffer between fights at Kaseya Center, and revealed his fandom for British fighter Paddy Pimblett.
In a video posted by the UFC’s official channels, Portnoy showed off a ‘Paddy the Baddy’ t-shirt, and when asked who he was there to support, he said: ‘Alright, UFC, we’re here in Miami. Paddy the Baddy.
Donald Trump speaks to reporters on board Air Force One en route to Miami for UFC 314
‘We started with Paddy. I’m still with Paddy. Paddy the Baddy, that’s why we’re here tonight.’
And Portnoy’s pick emerged victorious in the penultimate fight of the evening, defeating American Michael Chandler in a knockout win.
Trump, meanwhile, brought Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk, Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and granddaughter Kai Trump with him, among others.
It is the first time the president has been in attendance at a UFC event since last November, when he took his place at Madison Square Garden for UFC 309.