What would you expect a 'present day champion' to do during the most volatile market since just prior to the Great Depression?

Go on cnbc, cry about the world ending and being scared for your life and then buy up everything circa march.

Also Buffet is old enough to have remembered other "pandemias" and times of volatility. He was there during the hong kong flu of 69. He was around when Polio was a thing. Hes been through Black Monday and 9/11.

Tons of money to be made in volatility. You're using that word in a negative manner. Volatility up is a great thing.

And volatile down is no worry sitting on a huge pile of cash.

Buffet is well known to play long, big, safe, predictable bets, with recent exception with airlines with bad COVID timing. All this is consistent with his personality and history as an investor.