Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor withdrew his bid to be the next president of Ireland.
The former mixed martial arts fighter made the announcement in an X post on Sunday, saying the end of his run is just the beginning of his political career.
“While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home,” McGregor said on X.
McGregor slammed the presidential election process, saying the nation is constrained by “the straitjacket of an outdated Constitution.” He added that the Irish Constitution is “exploited to prevent a true democratic Presidential election being contested, but rather fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot.”
Candidates for president of Ireland must be citizens over age 35 and nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament, or four local authorities.
Current Irish President Michael D. Higgins, who has served in the largely figurehead role since 2011, is term-limited after completing two seven-year terms. Higgins was a Labour Party member before running for president as an independent.
McGregor, who aligns with President Donald Trump’s anti-establishment and populist rhetoric, ran a campaign focused on immigration policies. He attended Trump’s inauguration in January, met with Trump at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, and discussed Ireland’s immigration policies just before he announced his campaign.
“In a very short period, I have catalysed a mobilisation for positive change in Ireland against a malevolent political witch-hunt working together with the mainstream media supercharged Fake News,” McGregor wrote on X. “There is now a very visible and vocal movement of Irish Patriots reverting to our cultural and historical origins seeking to maintain and protect our way of life as Irish – to them I salute you.”
This was McGregor’s first bid for public office.
In July, an Irish court rejected McGregor’s appeal of a court ruling that awarded damages to a woman who accused him of sexual assault.
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Elon Musk publicly backed McGregor earlier in September, posting “Conor McGregor for President to save Ireland” on X.
Ireland’s presidential election will take place on Oct. 24. Three candidates have secured a spot on the ballot so far, according to the BBC.