Dave Portnoy accuses Trump strike critics of treachery after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei death revelation
The most extensive aerial bombardment in Israel’s military history, conducted in concert with the United States, has reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and plunged the Middle East into a dangerous new phase of open conflict.
Israeli officials confirmed on Saturday that the 86-year-old cleric was killed in a strike on his compound in Tehran, a claim later amplified by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. The operation, which Israel dubbed “Operation Lion’s Roar”, saw approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets hit around 500 targets across Iran, including in the capital, Isfahan, Qom, and Tabriz. The parallel US campaign was known as “Operation Epic Fury”.
President Trump, who monitored the situation from Mar-a-Lago according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, stated that Khamenei was “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems”. He described the Supreme Leader as “one of the most evil people in History” and framed the action as justice for Americans and others killed by “his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS”. Trump vowed to continue “heavy and pinpoint bombing… uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective,” which he said was to prevent Iran from threatening core US security interests.
The massive military intervention followed the collapse of high-stakes indirect nuclear talks in Geneva just two days prior. Mediators reported progress, but fundamental disputes over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels and its ballistic missile program—which Tehran refuses to discuss—remained unresolved. The strikes also came in the wake of a brutal crackdown by the Iranian regime on its own people. Widespread anti-government protests that began in late 2025 over economic collapse were met with lethal force. Amnesty International documented the use of firearms against protesters, leading to mass killings, with estimates of the dead ranging into the tens of thousands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the joint attack’s goal was to “remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.” The US administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic congressional leaders in advance, Leavitt said, though the action was taken without formal congressional authorisation, drawing immediate condemnation from leading Democrats.
New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez labelled the war “unlawful… unnecessary… and catastrophic,” a sentiment echoed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani who called it a “catastrophic escalation”. Their criticism was countered by prominent Trump supporter Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. Writing before official confirmation of Khamenei’s death, Portnoy slammed detractors, stating, “I always laugh at yo-yo’s who don’t have the 1st clue what information the President had that forced this decision.” He called Iran a “terror nation” responsible for severe human rights atrocities and added, “Borderline traitors if you ask me.”
The international reaction was sharply divided. Russia and China condemned the US-Israeli strikes, accusing them of seeking regime change and warning of a potential humanitarian and economic catastrophe. The European Union expressed “deep concern” and called for restraint, while Britain, France, and Germany urged a negotiated settlement. Nations including Canada, Australia, and Ukraine voiced support for the US and Israel.
Iran’s response was swift and regional in scope. The regime launched missile and air strikes targeting Israel and US military bases in several Gulf states, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain reported an Iranian strike on a US naval base, and the UAE said it intercepted missiles, with shrapnel killing one of its nationals in Abu Dhabi. A Pakistani national was also reported killed in the UAE strikes. The conflict triggered major flight disruptions across the Middle East, with explosions reported at Kuwait International Airport. Furthermore, Houthi forces in Yemen announced they would resume attacks in the Red Sea.
The attack represents the most dramatic escalation of the long-standing US policy of applying maximum pressure on Tehran. For years, Washington has imposed stringent economic sanctions, a strategy detailed by the State Department, aimed at crippling Iran’s economy to force nuclear concessions. While Iranian state media had not confirmed Khamenei’s death at the time of reporting, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News the Supreme Leader remained alive “as far as I know,” an Israeli official told Reuters his body had been found.
Internal reports suggest Khamenei’s death has caused disarray within Iran’s security apparatus. There were also accounts of celebrations in parts of Tehran following the news, aligning with Portnoy’s claim that “The Iranian people are on our side.” President Trump explicitly urged the Iranian people to “take back their Country.” However, Tehran’s immediate and widespread retaliatory strikes demonstrate the regime retains significant military capacity, and the death of its supreme leader does not guarantee the collapse of the Islamic Republic. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for a rapid and uncontrollable regional war now markedly increased.
