President Donald Trump took a pointed jab at the New York Mets during a rally Wednesday, mocking the team for carrying Major League Baseball’s highest payroll while posting a losing record.
“I like baseball,” Trump said from the stage at Wheeler High School. “You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”
The remarks came as Trump introduced Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company, and former Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker. He praised Plant’s leadership of the local franchise, contrasting it with underperforming clubs.
“But this guy’s done such a great job,” Trump said. “There are teams like that, where they never go down. Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine. I’ll get myself in trouble. This guy never rebuilds. He just stays at the top. He’s amazing.”
Trump suggested the Mets could benefit from hiring someone of Plant’s caliber. The crowd responded with the traditional Tomahawk Chop, a gesture associated with Braves fans that the president encouraged despite past controversy surrounding it.
“They say you’re not allowed to do that,” Trump told the audience. “Do it.”
The Mets began the 2026 season with baseball’s top payroll, listed at approximately $328 million according to salary tracking data. As of Thursday, the club sat at 43-60, last in the National League East and 17 games out of first place.
Trump’s comments arrived hours after The Wall Street Journal published an analysis headlined “The Mets Are the Biggest Waste of Money in Baseball History.” The piece examined the team’s poor return on its heavy spending.
The Mets are owned by billionaire Steve Cohen, who has poured significant resources into free agents and roster upgrades since acquiring the franchise. Despite the investment, the team has struggled to contend consistently in recent seasons.
Trump, a New York native more closely linked to the Yankees over the years, has occasionally weighed in on baseball matters. His Georgia appearance mixed sports banter with political messaging.
The event in Cobb County focused primarily on promoting “Trump Accounts,” a new tax-advantaged investment program for children established under recent Republican-backed legislation. The president also boosted local GOP candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and pushed for stricter national voting requirements.
In a wide-ranging speech lasting about 75 minutes, Trump addressed economic policy, immigration and other issues while drawing a crowd of several thousand. The Mets dig stood out as an unscripted aside that quickly circulated online.
A clip shared by New York Post Sports captured the moment and drew widespread attention among baseball fans. Some Mets supporters online acknowledged the criticism as reflecting the team’s disappointing campaign.
Trump is scheduled to host the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House in the coming days, continuing a tradition of presidential recognition for championship teams.
The Mets, meanwhile, remain focused on salvaging what has become another challenging year in Queens.
