Dave Portnoy is taking an unusual stance against the Trump administration regarding the Signal scandal and the leak of war plans to The Atlantic. Amid this week’s political turmoil, in which senior members of the Trump administration mistakenly included a journalist in a group text chat discussing a military strike in Yemen, the Barstool Sports founder took to social media to express his disgust over what he deems a “f*** up of epic proportions.”
For those less familiar with the political scene, on Monday, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg published a piece titled “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.” The article details how National Security Advisor Michael Waltz accidentally added Goldberg to a Signal group chat that included several high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, such as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance. This group was used to plan a military action against the Houthis in Yemen.
In an effort to maintain national security, Goldberg chose not to reveal highly sensitive details in his original article, including the timing of the strikes in Yemen. However, after several senior Trump officials, including Waltz and Hegseth, attempted to downplay and deny the discussion of classified information in the group chat, Goldberg released the actual texts on Wednesday morning. This prompted Portnoy to share a six-minute video on social media, where he criticized the Trump administration and called for accountability.
Political Rant incoming on the Houthis Leaked Groupchat. If you don’t like my political rants just keep the line moving. pic.twitter.com/YjKN2u8YU5
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) March 26, 2025
Portnoy, who has consistently praised Donald Trump and supported him during the 2024 presidential campaign, emphasized the need for the administration to accept responsibility for their casual approach towards national security. “In this new administration, you need to take accountability,” he stated. “You can’t have top security officials in the United States, handling the most sensitive information, adding random editors of a magazine that openly opposes Trump to a group chat discussing an attack before it happens on a terrorist group. You have to acknowledge it as a monumental mistake.”
Portnoy continued, “You have to stand up and say, ‘What a f*** up. I demand answers, accountability, and heads will roll.’ Jeffrey Goldberg is telling the truth, and it is evident that these texts are real and classified. We revealed strike information two hours before it happened. It’s a miracle this didn’t cost American lives. Someone has to be held accountable for this.”
While many may disagree, Dave Portnoy sees himself as capable of making objective judgments despite his outward support for the President. This type of critique directed at the Trump administration helps solidify his image as politically agnostic, much like the diverse fan base that Barstool Sports attracts.
