Conor McGregor, a former UFC two-weight world champion and Irish businessman, is at the White House on Saint Patrick’s Day to meet with President Donald Trump for what McGregor called the “most important meeting” for Ireland‘s future.
“I’m here to raise the issues the people of Ireland face,” McGregor said while addressing reporters with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “It’ll be music to the people of Ireland’s ears because never on the main stage [have] the issues the people of Ireland face been spoke.”
“Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland, and it’s high time that America is made aware of what is going on in Ireland,” he continued.
Conor McGregor is currently addressing reporters at The White House pic.twitter.com/W5XmZYbEOS
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 17, 2025
McGregor, who attended Trump’s inauguration, is meeting with the U.S. president amid his hints at running for Ireland’s presidency, which have recently appeared more like promises.
“Our systems need full change!” McGregor posted to X ahead of his visit to the White House. “To vote for anyone else in our upcoming Presidential election to make this happen other than me will be the ruination of Ireland. I am of no political party or affiliation. Any other candidate they may propose here in the upcoming race will be a tee up for zero resistance.”
We have never seen a cent nor felt the impact of this money in any way shape or form! Irish children sleep in the cold at night and you are talking about being honest about the money you squander on overseas issues drying up? These issues you constantly blow our money on have… https://t.co/ioRnzJhAtZ
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 17, 2025
“Ireland, I urge you, I plead!” he continued. “Help me save our country. Otherwise it is gone forever. I am a real Irish person of no corrupted political affiliation.”
McGregor’s entrance into the political arena came as he criticized the Irish government’s handling of its immigration crisis.
“The current system is actively giving leeway to dangerously imported criminals who have inflicted serious life-altering harm upon citizens of Ireland,” McGregor said regarding the sentence of a Guyana native who reportedly raped and falsely imprisoned a woman just days after arriving in Ireland.
“It is an absolute travesty!” he said. “Sentencing should never be reduced for an illegally imported criminal just because prison time in an Irish jail will be ‘difficult for them.’”
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 17, 2025
McGregor called the Irish government’s handling of illegal immigration a “racket” on Monday.
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“There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop,” he said, “that have become a minority in one swoop. So, issues need to be addressed, and the 40 million Irish Americans, as I said, need to hear this because, if not, there will be no place to come home and visit.”
Trump met with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week. The meeting between McGregor and Trump is set for Monday afternoon, according to Leavitt.