McGregor meets with Trump and criticizes Ireland's migration policy
US President Donald Trump and Conor McGregor (photo: X/@MargoMartin47)
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. During the meeting, the athlete criticized the Irish government's immigration policy. The Irish government denied the accusations, according to Sky News and The Guardian.
Dressed in a green business suit for Ireland's national holiday, St. Patrick's Day, McGregor participated in an impromptu Q&A session with journalists.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, the 36-year-old former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion stated that he was here to raise the issue and highlight it. He added that he would listen to Trump regarding immigration, one of the president's key areas of focus, as Trump seeks to strengthen the deportation of individuals entering the US without proper documentation.
McGregor noted that Trump's work ethic is inspiring, and the two men exchanged lighthearted comments about the fighter's suit and a map where the Gulf of Mexico was labeled as the American Gulf.
“Your work ethic is inspiring” @TheNotoriousMMA to President @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/0uMJUj2Tbw
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) March 17, 2025
In comments made in the White House briefing room before the meeting during his visit for St. Patrick's Day, the boxer said he was visiting the White House to raise the issues facing the people of Ireland.
"What is going on in Ireland is a travesty. Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability," he stated.
Ireland is losing its 'Irishness'
McGregor warned that Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness due to the illegal immigration racket.
"Ireland and America, we are siblings. We consider America our big sibling. So it's important for Ireland to be a peaceful, prosperous country for 40 million Irish Americans to have a place to visit, [to] come back to their home," said the champion.
According to him, we want our relationship with the United States to continue, and we want to be cared for by our older brother.
"The United States should look after its little bro. And that's how we feel," McGregor added.
Additionally, the athlete appeared before journalists during a briefing with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
During the meeting, McGregor reiterated that Ireland is on the brink of losing its Irish identity and that the illegal immigration racket is devastating the country. He also mentioned that there are rural towns in Ireland that have been overtaken in one swoop.
Reaction of the Irish government
The Irish government responded to the emotional and controversial remarks made by the boxer. The country's Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris criticized the meeting at the White House.
In a post on social media platform X, Martin said: "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."
Harris emphasized that McGregor was in the US not to represent Ireland, did not speak on behalf of the Irish people, and has no mandate to do so.
In an exclusive comment to Sky News regarding Martin's remarks, McGregor stated: "Shame on him for saying that, speaking down on an Irish man. Every metric available to us has shown that the government of Ireland has failed the people of Ireland."
St. Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 17, 2025
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.
Trump's sympathy for McGregor
US President Donald Trump is known for his support of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in which McGregor competes. The president attended several matches during his 2024 presidential campaign.
During a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin last week, Trump stated that McGregor is his favorite Irishman, partly because he has the best tattoos I've ever seen.
Meanwhile, McGregor has become a controversial figure in Ireland after a woman who accused him of rape won her civil lawsuit and received over £200,000 in damages.
Tesco was among the retailers that stopped selling alcohol brands associated with McGregor after Nikita Hend received €248,603 (£206,000) following a jury's ruling that McGregor assaulted her in a hotel in 2018.
McGregor has appealed the court's decision in the civil case.
In April 2024, McGregor officially returned to the octagon and fought his first match under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner.
