Dave Portnoy asserts that the polarizing nature of Donald Trump significantly influenced the tragic demise of Charlie Kirk, criticizing the ‘extreme’ discourse from America’s left that he believes led to his assassination.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative figure and Trump supporter, was fatally shot while leading a Q&A session at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old’s death has sent ripples worldwide, amplified by the widespread, chilling footage of the incident, with the perpetrator still evading capture despite an FBI search.

Portnoy, known for his bold political opinions, discussed the tragic incident in Utah during an episode of Barstool Sports’ The Unnamed Show podcast.

While condemning what he calls the left’s ‘extreme’ rhetoric, the Barstool founder elaborated on his belief that Trump’s divisive presence played a part in Kirk’s death.

‘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… [even just] his face is divisive. People hate him so much,’ Portnoy said.

‘And the left and the right, the rhetoric – especially to me the left, is insane – and it just boils, boils, boils, boils.

‘This happened with Trump, when his assassination attempt [happened] there was like a three-hour period of “let’s tone down the rhetoric”, and then they’re right back to it.’

He then added: ‘If you sit there and you call people Nazis over and over and over, and say that they’re threatening Democracy and they’re fascist over and over… you can’t then be like, “What happened?”

‘That goes together, because if you truly think you’re killing a Nazi, or you truly think you’re killing a fascist, in your head you’re thinking “I did good for society.”‘

Kirk, a married father of two, was hit by a single bullet while speaking to a crowd at the public university in Orem. He collapsed immediately after and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

While two suspects were initially captured, it was later revealed that the shooter has not yet been found and a major manhunt has been launched by the FBI and Utah police.

Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.

Trump – who narrowly escaped death when he was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania, in July 2024 – broke the news of the MAGA influencer’s passing on Wednesday.

‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,’ the President wrote on his Truth Social platform. 

‘No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. 

‘Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’

It was reported on Thursday morning that the bullet used to kill conservative activist Kirk was engraved with transgender and anti-fascist ideology.

A law bulletin sent to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents said that bullets found inside the rifle, a .30-06 caliber hunting rifle, had the messaging on them. 

The weapon was wrapped in a towel, with a spent cartridge in the chamber.

Another three unspent rounds were discovered in the magazine, all of which were inscribed. The wording was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

A Department of Justice source confirmed to the Daily Mail that the bulletin is authentic, while warning that the ‘recovered evidence from the site of the assassination is still being assessed and the investigation is ongoing’.

The ATF said they would not comment on the contents of the report due to it still being an active investigation.

Kirk was speaking to students at the time and had been addressing the issue of transgender individuals being involved in mass shootings just seconds before he was assassinated.

The FBI revealed earlier this morning that they had recovered the firearm believed to have been used in Kirk’s killing.

Robert Bohls, special agent in charge of the Bureau’s Salt Lake City field office, said agents recovered a ‘high-powered bolt action rifle’ from a wooded area.

According to Bohls, the assassin – who has since been described as a male of college age – fled to the wooded area after the shooting.

Beau Mason, Utah’s public safety chief, said that investigators have ‘good video footage’ of the suspect.

He said the gunman managed to blend in with students on the college campus, having arrived shortly before noon.

After making the fatal shot, authorities say he jumped from the roof of the building, before fleeing the campus.

Bohls said that the weapon was sent to an FBI lab for further analysis, with officials also finding palm and footwear prints on the scene.

The agent added that the FBI has received more than 130 tips since Kirk was gunned down, and a $100,000 reward has been offered to anyone able to provide information that leads to the suspect’s capture.

Portnoy, meanwhile, is an outspoken Trump fan, with the pair even meeting up earlier this year while attending a UFC event.

Speaking after they were caught on camera chatting cageside, the Barstool founder revealed he had told the President he ‘loved his recent legislation’. 

‘Told @realDonaldTrump I loved the water pressure legislation and told him I’d love to have him on #[Davey Day Trader Global],’ Portnoy posted on X. 

Davey Day Trader Global, or as Portnoy prefers to style it on social media #ddtg, is his social-media live stream show, where he gives financial advice and dishes about whatever else is on his mind.