Former New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, known for his powerful right arm, appears to lean right politically after he expressed admiration for President Donald Trump during a Fox News appearance on Tuesday.
In an interview with host Laura Ingraham, Syndergaard gushed about Trump after visiting the White House earlier that day to support the revival of the Presidential Fitness Test.
“It’s a dream come true, I’m riding this bliss in this moment,” Syndergaard told Ingraham. “I really just don’t quite understand the negativity or the pessimism he gets with the media and some of the population of this nation because he’s just such a patriotic guy, and he cares so much about everybody and the health of this nation and the health of this world.”
Syndergaard continued to compliment the twice-impeached, once criminally convicted commander in chief, who has also been associated with war, inflation, and healthcare cuts.
“I’m envious of the mental energy that this guy has, the sharpness he has, the comedic nature of everything he says,” said the athlete. “He’s just a joy to be around.”
His support of Trump caught some fans off-guard on social media, perhaps because Syndergaard’s X and Instagram accounts are not typically filled with political content. He even criticized Trump in at least one tweet in the past.
The hard-throwing pitcher, who won a World Series game for the Mets in 2015 and was an All-Star selection in 2016, finished his career with a 59-47 record, hampered by arm trouble. He also played for the Angels, Phillies, Dodgers, and Guardians.
Syndergaard’s endorsement of the president should not come as a surprise. In January, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution cited a study indicating that 53% of current MLB players across 24 states are registered Republicans.
