Skip to content

Conor McGregor meets Trump at White House

The White House Conor McGregor in a green suit in the Oval Office with blonde-haired Donald Trump, who is wearing a navy suit.The White House
McGregor earlier described the US as Ireland's "big bro" while speaking to reporters in the West Wing

Controversial Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor has met US President Donald Trump in Washington DC.

Accompanied by his partner and four children, McGregor praised the president's work ethic as "inspiring" as he met him in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day.

Trump hailed McGregor's own work rate, and described him as "fantastic".

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

In 2024, a woman who accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel won a claim against him for damages in a civil case.

A jury found that he had assaulted her and ordered him to pay more than €248,000 (£206,000).

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

McGregor was also pictured alongside Elon Musk in the Oval Office.

Mr Musk is a close ally of the US president and is leading efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.

McGregor appeared at the White House press briefing room lectern on Monday with press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who confirmed the meeting was scheduled for later in the day.

Ms Leavitt said she "couldn't think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick's Day".

Reuters Conor Mc Gregor is standing in front of a US flag and a White House logo. He is wearing a three-piece, pinstripe suit and a dark green tie. His hair and beard are closely cropped and he is smiling. Beside him and gesturing towards him is Karoline Leavitt, she has blonde, shoulder length hair and is wearing a dark green dress.Reuters
Conor McGregor with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt

Earlier, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that the fighter said he planned to "raise the issues the people of Ireland face".

He accused the Irish government of "abandoning" the voices of the people of Ireland as he criticised immigration policies.

"Conor McGregor's remarks are wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick's Day, or the views of the people of Ireland."

"What is going on in Ireland is a travesty," he said.

"Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people," he added.

McGregor has previously spoken out against Ireland's policies on immigration and asylum seekers.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin was critical of McGregor's comments, posting on social media: "St Patrick's Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship.

"Conor McGregor's remarks are wrong and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick's Day, or the views of the people of Ireland," Martin added.

McGregor 'doesn't speak for Ireland'

Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said the MMA fighter has visited Washington DC in a "personal capacity" and that he is not representing the country.

"He doesn't speak for Ireland. He doesn't speak for the people of Ireland. He has no mandate to do such," Harris said to reporters in New York.

He said the president is "perfectly entitled" to invite whoever he wishes 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."

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Matthew O'Toole described McGregor's White House appearance as an "insult to the island of Ireland" and "deeply depressing".

"That Trump and his administration thought on Ireland's national day to invite and clearly make a huge effort to platform and amplify McGregor, who is an appalling individual, is frankly beyond the pale," he told BBC News NI.

The fighter also attended President Trump's inauguration in January.