Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor is meeting Donald Trump today for talks on Ireland's "illegal immigration racket".
The 36-year-old appeared in the White House briefing room during his Patrick's Day visit to Washington DC, and is set to meet the US President later this afternoon.
He told reporters he is visiting the White House to "raise the issues the people of Ireland face".
"What is going on in Ireland is a travesty," he said.
"Our Government is the Government of zero action with zero accountability."
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FROM CONOR MCGREGOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE! 🍀🇺🇸 @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/YQPQDttUXB
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 17, 2025
McGregor said that "Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness" due to the "illegal immigration racket".
He added that he wants to learn from and listen to President Trump, whose work ethic he called "inspiring".
"Ireland and America, we are siblings," he said.
"We consider America our big sibling, so it's important for Ireland to be a peaceful, prosperous country for 40 million Irish Americans to have a place to visit, [to] come back to their home.
"We wish for our relationship with the United States to continue, and we wish to be taken care of by the big bro.
"The United States should look after its little bro, and that's how we feel."
Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor speaks briefly to the media in the White House Press briefing Room in Washington, DC, on Monday, March 17, 2025. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live NewsWhile meeting Micheál Martin last week, Trump said McGregor was his favourite Irish person, in part because "he's got the best tattoos I've ever seen".
Trump is well known for his support of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which McGregor is known for competing in, and attended bouts during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Earlier this year McGregor lost a civil case to Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her at a Dublin hotel in December 2018.
Ms Hand was awarded €248,603.60 in damages by the court, while McGregor has vowed to appeal the judgement.
His social media posts have also been linked to the 2023 Dublin riots.
Reporting via IRN.
Main image: Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor speaks briefly to the media in the White House Press briefing Room in Washington, DC, on Monday, March 17, 2025. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News
