Conor McGregor, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion, has sparked a political row after making anti-immigration remarks during a St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House at the invitation of US President Donald Trump. The 36-year-old told reporters that Ireland was “on the cusp of losing its Irishness” and that an “illegal immigration racket” was “running ravage on the country”.
Speaking in the White House briefing room alongside press secretary Karoline Leavitt, McGregor said rural towns in Ireland had been “overrun in one swoop” and that he was at the White House to “highlight” the issue. He added that he would be listening to Trump on immigration, a key focus for the president as he seeks to ramp up deportations of undocumented migrants.
The comments were swiftly condemned by Ireland’s taoiseach, Micheál Martin, who said on X that McGregor’s remarks “do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland”. Martin added that the day was meant to be rooted in “community, humanity, friendship and fellowship”.
McGregor’s appearance at the White House comes weeks after he attended an official pre-inauguration party in Washington in January. He has been a long-time ally of Dana White, the UFC president and Trump supporter. The fighter is also appealing a civil court verdict from November that ordered him to pay nearly €250,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of rape. McGregor denies the allegation and claims the sex was consensual.
The Dubliner has previously indicated he may run for the Irish presidency later this year, a prospect some thought would be ruled out after the civil trial. Immigration remains a contentious issue in Ireland, with the justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, vowing to clamp down on those not entitled to international protection after more than 80% of asylum applications were rejected in the first instance in January.
