Ireland's political leaders have declared that Conor McGregor does not represent the country, following his visit to the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump on the occasion of St. Patrick's Day.
McGregor, accompanied by his partner and four children, praised Trump's work ethic as "inspiring" and promised to raise immigration issues in Ireland. Trump praised McGregor as a "fantastic worker," writes A2 CNN.
Last week, during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the US president praised McGregor's tattoos. The MMA fighter also attended Trump's inauguration in January.
However, McGregor is a controversial figure. In 2024, a woman who accused him of sexual assault won a lawsuit against him, forcing him to pay over 248,000 euros in damages.
During a White House press conference, McGregor accused the Irish government of "abandoning" the voices of the people and criticized immigration policies. He declared that "our money is being spent on foreign issues that have nothing to do with the Irish people."
His statements were met with opposition from Irish leaders. Prime Minister Martin criticized McGregor, saying that “his words do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day or the values of the Irish people.” Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris also distanced himself from his statements, stressing that McGregor does not speak on behalf of Ireland and has no mandate to do so.
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MP Matthew O'Toole called McGregor's appearance at the White House "an insult to Ireland" and "depressing".
During his visit, McGregor was also photographed with Elon Musk, who is one of Trump's top supporters and is leading efforts to reduce the size of the US federal government. (A2 Televizion)
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