Here’s what happened.
Barstool Sports founder and media personality Dave Portnoy—known for his support of President Donald Trump—recently pushed back against a viral Truth Social post in which Trump claimed pop star Taylor Swift is “no longer hot.”
Portnoy, who proudly voted for Trump and continues to back the former president’s America First agenda, appeared on Fox Business with Stuart Varney to address the firestorm. The topic? Trump’s online jab at Swift, who has aligned herself with far-left Democrats and even endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
“Are you upset with Trump?” Varney asked Portnoy, noting that he’s a longtime fan of Swift’s music.
“I’m not upset with Trump. That’s just who he is,” Portnoy replied. “But on this one—he’s wrong. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more influential than Taylor Swift right now. She’s as popular as ever, even without releasing new music.”
President Trump stirred controversy last Friday when he posted on Truth Social, saying:
“Has anyone else picked up on the fact that ever since I said I couldn’t stand Taylor Swift, she hasn’t been ‘hot’ anymore?”
The former president’s comment came after Swift publicly threw her support behind Kamala Harris, whose open-border policies and progressive agenda have come under fire from working-class Americans and retirees alike.
Portnoy downplayed Trump’s criticism, calling it a typical Trump-style rant.
“Something probably irritated him, and he let it fly,” Portnoy said. “But if Taylor Swift wanted to sell a million tickets tomorrow, she could do it. She’s still a cultural powerhouse.”
Portnoy also weighed in on Bruce Springsteen’s recent anti-Trump rant during a concert in the United Kingdom, which triggered another viral moment. In response, Trump blasted the liberal rocker on social media, telling him to “keep his mouth shut.”
To that, Portnoy added: “Look, I like Springsteen’s music. I just don’t need him telling me how to vote. That’s where a lot of Americans are right now.”
Why It Matters:
This dust-up between pop culture and politics underscores a broader issue facing millions of Americans: the growing influence of left-wing celebrities in shaping political narratives. While Trump remains the clear choice for patriotic, freedom-loving Americans heading into 2024, even his loyal supporters like Portnoy can disagree on cultural moments without abandoning their principles.
Portnoy’s stance is clear: You can like someone’s music and still vote for Trump. And you can disagree with Trump once in a while without jumping ship.