Conor McGregor, iconic MMA figure and former UFC champion, announced on March 20, 2025 his intention to run in Ireland’s presidential election, scheduled for November 11. This declaration, made via his social networks, surprised many observers and sparked a lively debate in the Irish political landscape. Conor McGregor, a fan of buzz and controversy, is already dreaming of becoming president, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Donald Trump…
Nothing seems out of reach for the former MMA champion.
Conor McGregor, 36, is a jack-of-all-trades who doesn’t rule out any opportunity. From fighter to actor to businessman, the Irishman now dreams of becoming President of the Republic of Ireland…
The announcement comes after McGregor’s controversial visit to the White House, where he met US President Donald Trump on St Patrick’s Day. During this meeting, McGregor criticized Ireland’s migration policy, claiming that the country was in danger of losing its cultural identity due to illegal immigration.
These statements were strongly criticized by Irish officials, including Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who stressed that the MMA fighter did not represent the values of Ireland or its people.
For several years now, McGregor has been a constant critic of Ireland’s politics. Populist and described as “extreme” on certain sensitive issues, the man shares a certain vision, modeled on Donald Trump…
Conor McGregor expressed his opposition to the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, an agreement aimed at managing migratory flows within the European Union. He also criticized the Irish government’s support for the pact and promised that, if elected, he would hold a referendum to allow citizens to vote on the issue. In his messages, he urged the Irish people to vote for him in order to “make [leur] voice heard”.
For the Irish political sphere, as for the Irish population, this candidacy is as much a source of smiles as of seriousness. Many are worried.
Some fear his political stance and inexperience. Others, who share the fighter’s values, are enthusiastic.
McGregor’s candidacy is currently raising questions about its feasibility. To run for the presidency in Ireland, a candidate would need the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament) or four local authorities, which seems unlikely given his controversial past, including convictions for assault and accusations of rape. (Recently, he was found guilty by a civil jury of assaulting a woman in 2018, a verdict he plans to challenge on appeal.).
Nevertheless, some analysts believe that his popularity and outsider image could appeal to a section of the Irish electorate.
More news
