MMA fighter Conor McGregor was pictured in a with US President Donald Trump during his visit to the White House. The Dublin fighter swung by the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day, where he expressed admiration for Trump saying, "Your work ethic is inspiring."
Before the exchange, however, McGregor made headlines with a controversial tirade on immigration in the White House press room. Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin was quick to criticise these comments as "wrong."
At the same event, standing next to McGregor, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "We couldn't think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick's Day."
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During an unscripted press conference, McGregor shared that his meeting with Trump came shortly after the President mentioned he was his favourite Irishman. Addressing the journalists, McGregor iterated: "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."
Continuing his bold statements, McGregor added, "What is going on in Ireland is a travesty, our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability.", reports the Irish Mirror. In response to questions about undocumented Irish immigrants in the US, McGregor's stance was that they should "look after" Irish people.
He opined: "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."
In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin strongly disagreed with the MMA athlete on platform X, asserting: "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."
Tánaiste Simon Harris also addressed the comments while speaking to journalists in New York on St Patrick's Day, making it clear that McGregor is not an emissary for Ireland. He stated: "Let me be very clear. Conor McGregor is not here in the United States representing Ireland or the people of Ireland."
He elaborated: "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."
Regarding his legal issues, last November saw McGregor found culpable in a civil lawsuit for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand, resulting in a €248,603 damages payment. His absence from the UFC rings persists, nearing a four-year hiatus.
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