MMA fighter Conor McGregor has announced his bid to become the President of Ireland, just days after a controversial visit to the White House. The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding McGregor, who was found civilly liable for raping a woman in Dublin last November. McGregor made his intentions clear in a post on Instagram, where he posed in front of a private jet wearing a “Make Ireland Great Again” cap. In his statement, he expressed strong opposition to the EU Migration Pact and vowed to put it to a referendum if elected President.

“Ireland must fully implement the EU Migration Pact by June 12, 2026,” McGregor wrote. “Several pieces of legislation must be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas and then signed by the President. The next presidential election must take place by November 11, 2025. Who else will stand up to the Government and oppose this bill?” McGregor further stated, “Any other presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will! For clarity, as President, I would put forth this bill to referendum. Although I greatly oppose this pact, it is neither mine nor the government’s choice to make. It is the people of Ireland’s choice! Always! That is true democracy!” On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), McGregor urged voters to back him, stating: “Ireland, the choice is yours and it is an easy one. Vote for me as your President and we will SAVE IRELAND TOGETHER!”

McGregor’s announcement comes after a high-profile visit to Washington, D.C., where he was a guest at the White House and met with U.S. President Donald Trump. During his visit, McGregor criticised the Irish government, claiming the country was “potentially losing its Irishness” due to unchecked immigration. “Our money is being spent on overseas issues that have nothing to do with the Irish people,” he said during a speech before Trump’s press conference. Trump, who previously praised McGregor as one of his favorite Irish figures, welcomed him to the Oval Office, where they posed for photos in front of a map labeled “Gulf of America.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the visit, saying, “We couldn't think of a better guest to have with us on St. Patrick’s Day.”

McGregor’s trip drew sharp criticism from Irish political figures. Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned his remarks, stating that they “did not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day or the views of the people of Ireland.” Martin took to X to emphasize that St. Patrick’s Day is “a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship, and fellowship.”

McGregor’s presidential aspirations come as he continues to face serious legal and professional repercussions. In November, the Dublin High Court found him civilly liable for raping 35-year-old Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. A jury ruled in Hand’s favor after a three-week trial, awarding her damages and legal costs. The judge later stated that the jury had “conclusively determined” McGregor’s culpability. The ruling led to significant professional consequences for McGregor. Major retailers dropped his Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand, and he was removed from the popular video game Hitman. McGregor has appealed the High Court’s decision, but the case continues to cast a shadow over his public and political ambitions.