MMA Fighter Conor McGregor Announces Run For Irish Presidency

UFC world champion Conor McGregor announced his bid for president of Ireland in a social media post while wearing a hat with the phrase “Make Ireland Great Again.”

“This is the future of Ireland with me as President. All citizens of Ireland have a voice and a choice on their future!” McGregor wrote in an Instagram post. The fighter, who is aiming to curb mass migration, also questioned the validity of the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, a set of reforms that would establish a common asylum system and prioritize faster asylum for migrants. Ireland must fully implement and enforce it in 2026. (RELATED: The Stars Align: Donald Trump’s Inauguration Attracts High-Profile Guests)

“Although I oppose greatly this pact, it is neither mine nor the government’s choice to make. It is the people of Ireland’s choice! Always! That is a true democracy!” he wrote.

The UFC star previously hinted at a presidential run in Sept. 2024, writing on social media, “Ireland needs an active President employed wholly by the people of Ireland. It is me.”

McGregor appeared at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, vowing to “raise the issues the people of Ireland face” and accusing Ireland’s government of “abandoning” the people. He also lamented that Ireland’s “money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people.” 

Since 2018, Ireland has been under the leadership of President Micheal D. Higgins, a representative of the nation’s Labour Party. Ireland’s current prime minister, Micheal Martin, is the first conservative to hold the position since 2017. The two prime ministers before Martin include Leo Varadkar, the country’s first Indian and openly gay prime minister, and Simon Harris, who served as higher education minister under Varakar. 

However, even with a conservative prime minister, the leader of the Irish legislative body can’t enact legislation without presidential approval. McGregor is now looking to fulfill that presidential seat, promising a referendum on the EU migration pact. 

McGregor earned praise from Elon Musk in 2023 when he teased a presidential run, and on St. Patrick’s day, President Donald Trump referred to McGregor as his “favorite Irishman.”