MMA superstar Conor McGregor was seen cosying up to US President Donald Trump inside the White House, as the pair struck a pose on St Patrick’s Day. The Irish fighter was welcomed into the Oval Office by Trump and expressed admiration for him, saying, “Your work ethic is inspiring”.
Before their meet-up, McGregor caused a stir in the White House press room with his fiery comments on immigration. Irish prime minister Micheál Martin has hit back at McGregor’s statements, labelling them “wrong”.
Standing alongside McGregor in the press room, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, “We couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day.”
McGregor seized the moment for an unexpected press conference ahead of his meeting with Trump, who had recently named him as his favourite Irish person. He shared with the media: “I am here to raise the issues that the people of Ireland face. It will be music to the people of Ireland’s ears because never on the main stage has the issues the people of Ireland face been spoken. Our government has long since abandoned the voice of the people of Ireland, and it’s high time that America is made aware of what is going on in Ireland.”
He went on to critique Ireland’s leadership, calling out what he sees as a disaster back home: “What is going on in Ireland is a travesty, our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish in America, McGregor asserted they deserve support, suggesting they should “look after” Irish nationals.
He remarked: “Ireland and America we are siblings; we consider America our big sibling, so it is important for Ireland to be a peaceful, happy, prosperous country and for 40 million Irish-Americans to have a place to visit to come back to their home so we wish for our relationship with the United States to continue and we wish to be taken care of by the big bro. The United States should look after its little bro, and that’s how we feel.”
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In a sharp retort on X, Taoiseach Micheál Martin slammed the MMA star’s comments, penning: “St Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship. Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.”
Addressing the media in New York during St Patrick’s Day celebrations, Irish deputy prime minister Simon Harris was unequivocal about McGregor’s representation of Ireland, stating: “Let me be very clear. Conor McGregor is not here in the United States representing Ireland or the people of Ireland.
“He’s here in a personal capacity. He doesn’t speak for Ireland. He doesn’t speak for the people of Ireland. He has no mandate to do such, and my views on him are very clear, well established, previously articulated, long-standing and on the public record.”
Back in November, McGregor faced a legal defeat when he was deemed liable in a civil lawsuit for sexual assault against Nikita Hand, resulting in a €248,603 payout in damages. His absence from the UFC ring now stretches to almost four years.
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