Conor McGregor met Donald Trump on Monday. It was St. Patrick’s Day. The Irish MMA star hit out at illegal immigration. “Ireland could lose its Irishness,” he warned. He spoke in the White House briefing room. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt joined him. McGregor wore a green suit for the occasion.
Last week, Trump welcomed the 36-year-old Conor McGregor to the Oval Office. He referred to McGregor as his favourite Irishman. They took several photos together, including one where McGregor had his arm around Trump, and another with Elon Musk. McGregor remarked, “Your work ethic inspires me,” to which Trump replied, “You’re fantastic.” The bond between Conor McGregor and Trump strengthened during this meeting.
President Donald J. Trump 🍀 Conor McGregor @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/KQmaprETt5
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 17, 2025Immigration Takes Center Stage
McGregor echoed Trump’s immigration focus. “I’m listening to him,” he’d said earlier. He claimed Ireland’s “illegal immigration racket” runs wild. Trump’s pushing deportations hard. Leavitt praised McGregor as the perfect St. Patrick’s Day guest. But Irish PM Micheal Martin slammed back on X. “His remarks don’t reflect Ireland,” Martin wrote.
Conor McGregor meets with President Trump in the Oval Office! 🇮🇪🍀🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xJB8ZauXAZ
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 17, 2025McGregor’s no stranger to trouble. In November 2024, an Irish court found him liable for sexual assault in 2018. He paid damages to a woman claiming rape. He insists it was consensual. In January 2025, a US lawsuit accused him of assault at an NBA game. Trump, too, lost a 2023 case, paying $5 million for abuse and defamation.
Read: Conor McGregor Withdraws from UFC 303 Due to Injury, Backup Fight Planned
Nicknamed “The Notorious,” McGregor rules UFC. It’s the top MMA league, blending brutal combat styles. Trump leaned on UFC stars in his 2024 campaign. McGregor’s fiery anti-immigration rants aren’t new. Musk, a Trump ally, once backed him for Ireland’s presidency. Their St. Patrick’s Day meetup stirred the pot.
