On St Patrick’s Day, Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, taking the opportunity to speak out against the Irish government. In a press briefing alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, McGregor expressed his concerns that officials in Ireland had “abandoned the voices of the people” and highlighted a lack of accountability and action on critical issues, particularly regarding what he termed an “illegal immigration racket.”
McGregor emphasised the importance of these issues for the 40 million Irish-Americans, stating he was there to raise awareness while acknowledging the celebratory nature of St Patrick’s Day. Despite his high-profile status, McGregor is facing legal troubles himself; a civil court in Ireland has ordered him to pay €250,000 (approximately $427,800) to a woman who accused him of sexual assault, allegations he has denied.
His comments followed a visit from Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who had met with Trump just days earlier. During that meeting, Trump was asked about his favourite Irishman, to which he replied, referring to McGregor as a talented figure with impressive tattoos.
Martin responded to McGregor’s remarks by asserting that St Patrick’s Day is meant to celebrate “community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.” He described McGregor’s comments as misrepresentative of the spirit of the day and not reflective of Irish people’s views.