The Blubber

Dave Portnoy Says Trump Administration Asked Him to Join Commerce Department

Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy claims he was approached by the Trump administration to join the U.S. Commerce Department, though the offer never materialized.

“I got a call, I don’t know, a couple months ago,” Portnoy said Tuesday in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter). However, he noted a key issue:

“A caveat of joining the government is somebody would have to run Barstool.”

Portnoy said the administration never followed up, but questioned how Elon Musk manages to run Tesla while leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“He’s doing all this DOGE stuff, which I think is good—get rid of government waste, I’m for that,” Portnoy said. “But how do you run Tesla when you’re working on DOGE 24/7?”

The White House did not immediately comment on the claim.

Portnoy’s Political Stance and Barstool’s Controversies

Portnoy is known for his outspoken political views, including opposing COVID-19 lockdowns and supporting Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. His views have often influenced Barstool Sports, which he founded as a newspaper in 2004.

Barstool rose to prominence with its irreverent take on sports and pop culture, but the company has also faced numerous controversies over the years, including:

• Allegations of sexual misconduct against Portnoy
• Fines for violating advertising and gambling regulations

Barstool’s Ownership Saga

Casino and racetrack operator Penn Entertainment Inc. acquired full ownership of Barstool Sports in February 2023 as part of its push into online sports betting. However, the partnership did not go as planned.

By August 2023, Penn announced it would sell Barstool back to Portnoy for $1, taking an $850 million loss on the deal. Since then, Penn has pivoted to a partnership with Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN for its online gambling operations.