Conor McGregor's presidential bid: From the octagon to the Oval Office
Conor McGregor is a well-known mixed martial arts fighter from Ireland. He met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office to discuss the issues facing his country. Immediately following the conversation, he announced his intention to run for the presidency, outlining a key point of his campaign.
Conor McGregor and Donald Trump met on the occasion of St. Patrick's Day. The gentlemen have long admired each other. The President of the USA described the boxer as his favourite Irishman and praised his unique tattoos.
Apparently, he was envious of the politician's position because, after their joint discussions, he announced on Instagram that he also wants to become a leader. In his country, he intends to primarily address issues related to migration.
The former UFC champion believes that the government there isn't doing much to address this problem. He confessed that "Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability."
Conor McGregor presented an ambitious plan. He announced that Ireland must implement the European Union's migration plan by June 2026, but the presidential elections will be held in November this year. The 36-year-old believes that he is the only one who has the courage to oppose the government's policy on this matter, advocating for not signing the bill.
"Although I oppose greatly this pact, it is neither mine nor government’s choice to make. It is the people of Ireland’s choice! Always! This is the future of Ireland with me as President" — he contended.
The athlete's announcement was met with mixed feelings on the island. Micheál Martin, leader of one of the largest parties, was among those criticizing it. A photo of Conor McGregor and Donald Trump shaking hands and smiling also sparked controversy due to the celebrity's past.
Conor McGregor's controversial past
The multiple award-winning mixed martial arts champion was convicted of sexual assault in 2024, an incident that occurred in 2018 at a hotel in Dublin. The victim is Nikita Hand. The MMA legend admitted to cheating on his wife and having relations with another woman but claims it happened with the victim's consent.
The court disagreed and required the Irishman to pay €241,000 to the plaintiff. Donald Trump's friend also faced assault charges a few years ago for an incident in a Dublin pub.
