KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – AUGUST 02: Owner Steve Cohen of the New York Mets talks with members of the media prior to a game between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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For much of the 2026 season, the New York Mets have found themselves at the center of trade speculation, front-office scrutiny and one of the most disappointing stretches in franchise history. With one of baseball’s highest payrolls failing to produce consistent results, frustration has followed the club into the second half.
That backdrop unexpectedly spilled into politics this week, when President Donald Trump used the Mets as the punchline while praising a longtime Atlanta Braves executive during a public appearance in Georgia. The remark came as the Mets continue battling through a historic losing streak and questions surrounding the direction of owner Steve Cohen’s high-priced roster.
President Donald Trump Offers Replacement For New York Mets Steve cohen
During an appearance in Marietta, Trump praised both former Braves manager and Hall of Famer Brian Snitker and Braves Development Company CEO Mike Plant, joking that he’d found a better option than Mets owner Steve Cohen, who has failed to assemble a winning team this season.
“So I like baseball. I like baseball,” Trump said during the rally, per WXIA News. “But this guy’s done such a great job. 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.”
Trump appeared to be referring to Plant, who joined him on stage shortly afterward, crediting the executive for the Braves’ successful rebuilding efforts.
“You don’t realize how good he is,” the president added. “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.”
If the Mets were to “steal” Plant away, it seems he’d be a replacement for at least one of the roles held by Cohen, who serves as the Mets’ chairman and CEO.
President Trump Mocks New York Mets’ Historic Losing Streak Under Owner And CEO Steve Cohen
Since Cohen purchased the Mets in 2020, the team has consistently spent as much or more than any other team in the sport but have failed to have much postseason success. But this ongoing season marks perhaps the lowest point in Cohen’s tenure.
The Mets have Major League Baseball’s highest total payroll this season and are virtually assured of missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
As a result, the team has become a bit of a punching bag, even for President Trump, who is originally from New York.
However, Plant might not totally deserve the credit for the Braves’ rebuilding success.
“Plant operates primarily on the real estate arm of the Braves, overseeing projects like The Battery and the club’s spring training complex,” Johnny Flores noted for The Athletic. “Alex Anthopoulos is Atlanta’s general manager and president of baseball operations.”
But even though Trump might have misunderstood Plant’s role with the Braves, it seems clear he felt his high-profile supporter in Atlanta would do a better job than Cohen does as the Mets’ chief executive.
