Conor McGregor has announced his bid to become Ireland’s President, just days after a highly visible visit to the White House.
The MMA fighter—previously implicated in a civil case in Dublin last November over allegations of rape—revealed his presidential ambitions in an Instagram post, in which he stands before a private jet sporting a “Make Ireland Great Again” cap.
His announcement comes shortly after McGregor denounced what he described as an “illegal immigration racket ravaging our country” during his White House appearance.
“Ireland must fully implement the EU Migration Pact by June 12, 2026,” he wrote on Instagram. “So between now and 12 June 2026, several pieces of legislation have to be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas & then signed by the President. The next presidential election must take place by 11 Nov 2025. Who else will stand up to Government and oppose this bill?
“Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!” he continued. “For clarity also, as President, I would put forth this bill to referendum. Although I oppose greatly this pact, it is neither mine nor governments choice to make. It is the people of Irelands choice! Always! That is a true democracy!”
Earlier on X, the former MMA champ wrote: “Ireland, the choice is yours and it is an easy one. Vote for me as your President and we will SAVE IRELAND TOGETHER!”
On Monday, ahead of a press conference with Trump, McGregor warned that Ireland was on the verge of “potentially losing its Irishness” and criticized the Irish government as an administration marked by “zero action with zero accountability.”
“Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people,” he said.
McGregor’s invitation to the White House followed Trump’s recent remark naming the sportsman among his favorite Irish people. When they met on Monday, McGregor praised Trump’s “work ethic” as “inspiring.”
The pair posed for photos, shaking hands and exchanging light-hearted remarks in front of a map in the Oval Office—one that humorously labeled the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Before the two met, press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted in the White House briefing room: “We couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day.”
McGregor’s appearance in Washington, D.C. was criticized by Irish leaders. Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated the MMA fighter’s comments “did not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day or the views of the Irish people.” He also wrote on the X platform that the holiday is “a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.”
Simon Harris, who is now Ireland’s deputy prime minister, said in a video published to social media while visiting New York, “‘It’s for President Trump to decide to invite whoever he wants to his home and he’s perfectly entitled to do whatever he wishes in relation to who he decides to invite to the White House. But 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.”
Ireland is led by an elected president—Michael D. Higgins, who is currently serving his second term after being elected in 2011 and 2018. However, most of the country’s real political power resides with the Taoiseach, who is nominated by the Dáil, Ireland’s lower house of parliament.
