St. Patrick’s Day: Trump meets with Irish boxing king McGregor.

On Monday, March 17th, which was St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, President Trump met with Conor McGregor, the UFC lightweight and featherweight double champion, at the White House in the afternoon.

Earlier that day, McGregor appeared on the podium in the White House briefing room with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“Nobody is a better guest than Conor McGregor. We are both celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and wearing green,” Leavitt said, pointing to McGregor.

McGregor frequently criticizes the Irish government, judges, and immigration system on social media. During the informal press conference in the White House briefing room, he stated, “It’s time to let America know what’s happening in Ireland.”

Last week, during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the White House, when asked about his favorite Irish person, President Trump mentioned McGregor, praising his tattoo and acknowledging the Irish people’s skill in fighting.

McGregor has a large following among conservative white males in the United States. He opposes illegal immigration and has expressed his desire to run for the Irish presidency later this year.

Illegal immigration has become one of the most concerning issues for the Irish people. Last year, there were spontaneous large-scale demonstrations in various locations in Ireland, demanding the government to tighten border policies and deport illegal immigrants.

Entering the election list scheduled for October seems challenging for McGregor as candidates need formal support from at least 20 incumbent members of parliament or four local councils.

The recently returned Irish Prime Minister stated that McGregor’s views on immigration do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day or represent the opinions of the Irish people.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris, attending St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in New York City, emphasized that President Trump has the right to invite anyone to the White House. However, he also mentioned that McGregor does not have the authorization to speak on behalf of the Irish.

Before heading to Washington on March 16th, McGregor posted on social media, criticizing the justice system and calling for thorough reform to prevent dangerous criminals from illegally entering Ireland and causing harm to citizens.

Looking ahead to the upcoming presidential election, McGregor urged the Irish people to vote for him to save the country, claiming he is not affiliated with any political party or faction.

At present, the controversial 36-year-old Irish boxing champion is facing a civil lawsuit. In 2024, a woman accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018.

The jury ruled in favor of the woman in the civil lawsuit, ordering McGregor to pay over 248,000 euros in compensation and up to 1 million euros in legal fees. McGregor is currently appealing the verdict.

(This article referenced reports from the BBC and the European edition of “Politico.”)