McGregor’s White House remarks draw criticism from Irish leaders

Conor McGregor, who met with US President Donald Trump at the White House for a St. Patrick’s Day meeting, was reportedly speaking against him in an interview with Irish political leaders.

McGregor earlier stated to the president that he would speak with him about immigration issues in Ireland.

The controversial MMA fighter met the president in the Oval Office and praised his work ethic as “inspiring” with the help of his partner and four children.

Last week, during a meeting at the White House with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin, the US president praised McGregor’s tattoos.

The fighter also went to the January inauguration of President Trump.

A woman who claimed McGregor had raped her in a Dublin hotel won a civil lawsuit against him in 2024.

McGregor and press secretary Karoline Leavitt made an announcement at the White House press briefing room earlier on Monday, and they were both confirmed to have a meeting later that day.

Ms. Leavitt claimed that she “couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St. Patrick’s Day.”

The activist claimed that he intended to “raise the issues the Irish people face.”

He criticized immigration policies and accused the Irish government of “abandoning” the voices of the Irish people.

He claimed that “what is going on in Ireland is a travesty.”

McGregor has previously criticised Ireland’s immigration and asylum laws.

In a statement on social media, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin criticized McGregor for saying that “St Patrick’s Day is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship, and fellowship.”

The MMA fighter, who is not representing the country, has traveled to Washington, D.C., according to Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris.

He doesn’t represent Ireland, he said. He does not represent Ireland’s citizens. According to Harris, who spoke to reporters in New York, “He has no mandate to do this.”

He claimed that the president has “absolutely the right to invite anyone to the White House.”

Conor McGregor does not represent Ireland or the Irish people in the United States, let me be very clear.

Matthew O’Toole, a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), described McGregor’s White House appearance as “deeply depressing” and “insulting to the island of Ireland.”

It is beyond the pale for Trump and his administration to invite and clearly make a huge effort to platform and enhance McGregor, who is an abhorrent individual, to do so, he claimed in a statement to BBC News NI.

Elon Musk and McGregor were also pictured in the Oval Office on Monday.