Conor McGregor's White House visit is a shameful St. Patrick's Day stunt
by https://www.irishcentral.com/author/kerry-o-shea · IrishCentralConor McGregor, the Irish UFC fighter who a Dublin jury found sexually assaulted a woman, was at the White House on Monday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day, for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
McGregor took to X on Monday morning to say he was en route to Washington.
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Later on Monday, the official White House account shared a clip of McGregor saying "Happy Paddy's Day, America," as well as a photo of McGregor posing in front of the portraits of Trumpp and US Vice President JD Vance.
The Dublin native spoke to members of the media a few moments from the briefing room of the White House.
When asked what should happen with Irish people without status in the US, McGregor dodged the question, saying that America and Ireland are "siblings."
"We consider America our big sibling, so it's important for Ireland to have a - to be a peaceful, prosperous country for 40 million Irish Americans to have a place to visit, to come back to their home," he said.
"So we wish for our relationship with the United States to continue, and we wish to be taken care of by the big bro. The United States should look after its little bro. That's how we feel."
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that McGregor was at the White House to meet with Trump and other administration officials adding, "We couldn't think of a better guest to have with us on St. Patrick's Day. We're both wearing our green, this was not planned."
McGregor continued: "I'm here to raise the issues that the people of Ireland face."
He claimed: "Our money is being spent overseas that has nothing to do with Irish people. The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country. There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop, that have become a minority in one swoop.
"So issues need to be addressed and the 40 million Irish Americans need to hear this because if not, there will no place to come home to visit."
The irony, of course, is that McGregor is hardly an upstanding Irish citizen. He pleaded guilty to punching an elderly man in a Dublin bar, is an admitted drug user, was found liable for sexual assault in November, and is facing a sexual battery lawsuit in Florida.
McGregor, however, will be in good company with Trump, who is a convicted felon who was also found liable for sexual abuse.
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McGregor's White House meeting comes less than a week after Taoiseach Micheál Martin made the rounds in Washington, DC, including having a bilateral meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.
During the engagements, Trump said McGregor is one of his favorite Irish people.
On Monday, both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste were quick to comment on McGregor's remarks at the White House.
The Tánaiste, who is in New York City where he is marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, told reporters that Trump is free to invite whomever he wants to the White House.
He continued: "But let me be very clear. Conor McGregor is not here in the United States representing Ireland or the people of Ireland, he is here in a personal capacity.
"He doesn't speak for Ireland, he doesn't speak for the people of Ireland, he has no mandate to do such.
"My views on him are very clear, well-established, previously articulated."
Responding to McGregor's comments from inside the White House, the Taoiseach said that McGregor's remarks were "wrong" and do not reflect the views of the people of Ireland.