Conor McGregor's St Patrick's Day visit to the White House, where he met President Donald Trump and other officials, has sparked controversy in Ireland. The mixed martial arts fighter, recently found liable for rape in a civil case in Dublin, was hosted by Trump despite not being an elected official. The visit included meetings with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, as well as a photo opportunity with Trump and Elon Musk.
McGregor later announced his intention to run for the Irish presidency, though his candidacy faces significant hurdles. Under Irish law, candidates must be nominated by either 20 members of parliament or four local authorities, a threshold McGregor is unlikely to meet. Current President Michael D Higgins, a poet and former anti-war activist, has been in office for 14 years and remains popular.
The visit has been criticised by Irish officials and advocacy groups. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described McGregor's claims about an 'illegal immigration racket' as 'wrong' and not reflective of Irish views. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre accused the White House of attempting to 'launder' McGregor's reputation. Middle Ireland, broadly centrist, feels insulted by the endorsement, which some see as an attempt by the Trump administration to influence Irish politics.
McGregor has emerged as a figurehead for Ireland's far-right, particularly after violent protests in Dublin in November 2023 following a stabbing incident. He posted 'Ireland, we are at war' on X before the riots. While the centre still holds in Irish politics, with centrist parties dominating the last election, issues like homelessness, rising house prices, and perceived rapid social change have created an appetite for far-right rhetoric, echoing themes from US Vice-President JD Vance's criticisms of European policies.
