Fresh from a controversial White House visit, Conor McGregor has now declared he wants to be Ireland’s next president.
The UFC fighter, who was found liable for raping a woman in a civil case last year, made the announcement on Instagram while wearing a ‘Make Ireland Great Again’ cap.
But his presidential ambitions have been overshadowed by the fallout from his legal battles and controversial comments on immigration.
McGregor’s big pitch: ‘Vote for me, we will save Ireland together’ 🗳️
In his Instagram post, McGregor took aim at the Irish government over its handling of the EU Migration Pact.
He claimed Ireland must implement the pact by June 2026 and suggested only he could stand up to the government.
“Any other presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!”
He added that, if elected, he would put the migration bill to a referendum, arguing the people of Ireland should have the final say.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), he doubled down:
“Ireland, the choice is yours, and it is an easy one. Vote for me as your President and we will SAVE IRELAND TOGETHER!”
Backlash over White House visit 🌍🏛️
McGregor’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House didn’t go down well in Ireland.
Many were furious that he was chosen to represent the country, especially after he used the platform to make divisive comments on immigration.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin slammed his remarks, saying they “did not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day or the views of the Irish people”.
Meanwhile, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar didn’t hold back. On Instagram, he said McGregor was the kind of man “good Irish dads teach their sons to detest and their daughters to avoid”.
The rape case that won’t go away ⚖️
Adding to McGregor’s troubles, a jury recently ruled against him in a civil case.
Nikita Hand accused McGregor of raping her in 2018 at a Dublin hotel. A jury found him liable and ordered him to pay her €248,000 (£206,000) in damages.
Speaking after the verdict, Hand said:
“No matter how afraid you might be to speak up, you have a voice.”
McGregor denies the allegations and has vowed to appeal the decision.
The details of the case: ‘Placed in a chokehold’
During the trial, Hand told the court McGregor pinned her to a bed and assaulted her.
She was later taken to hospital, where a paramedic said she hadn’t seen “someone so bruised in a long time”.
Hand described how McGregor had put her in a chokehold, leaving her with extensive bruises across her body.
McGregor claimed the injuries were from her “swan diving into the bath”.
The jury didn’t buy it.
What now for McGregor?
With a presidential bid in the works, a damaging legal battle, and a growing backlash in Ireland, McGregor’s future is anything but certain.
Will he really run for office? Or is this just another headline-grabbing stunt?
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