Ireland MMA fighter Conor McGregor anti-immigration speech at the White House can also be seen as hsi attempt to gather support ahead of the Presidential election in the country which has been very welcoming to asylum seekers.
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Conor McGregor’s St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House turned out to be quite eventful. The Irish MMA star met President Donald Trump and senior US administration officials and claimed, “Ireland is on the cusp of losing its Irishness.”
McGregor’s visit to the White House came a week after Trump hosted the country’s Prime Minister. Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt described the 36-year-old former MMA fighter as the best guest the White House could have had on St. Patrick’s Day.
McGregor slams Ireland’s immigration policies
McGregor, who wearing a green pinstripe suit, however, took the opportunity to launch an attack on the immigration policies of the Ireland government.
“Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland,” McGregor said in the White House press briefing room. “The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country.”
“There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop,” he added.
“It’s high time America was made aware of what’s going on in Ireland.”
The Irish government has destroyed Ireland through immigration and friendly media coverage has enabled it.
Conor McGregor just told the whole world what’s going on here.
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/i7hr1djJFN
— MichaeloKeeffe (@Mick_O_Keeffe) March 17, 2025
Ireland Prime Minister Micheál Martin was quick to condemn McGregor’s comments. “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, whose coalition government was re-elected last November, said on social media.
Ireland has been one of the most liberal countries in Europe when it comes to accepting asylum seekers, however, they have struggled to accommodate a record number of immigrants in last two years, creating a political debate in the nation.
McGregor aiming to become Ireland’s president
McGregor’s White House rant could also be seen as an attempt to garner support as he has suggested in the past that he may contest October’s election for the post of Irish president.
However, he may find it difficult to get his name on the ballot due to lack of recommendation after he was
convicted of civil rape last year. A jury found that the Irish mixed martial arts fighter assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. He has been ordered to pay her more than €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.