DONALD Trump has welcomed Conor McGregor to the White House with the pair set for an “important meeting”.
The St Patrick’s Day meet up comes after Trump labelled the shamed mixed martial artist his “favourite Irishman”.
XConor McGregor meets Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House[/caption]
AlamyConor McGregor spoke to the media in the White House Press briefing room before meeting Trump[/caption]
The White HouseMcGregor poses in White House in front of portraits of Trump and his VP JD Vance[/caption]
EPAThe UFC star came in a green suit and tie as he said he was due to speak to Trump about Ireland[/caption]
ReutersMcGregor with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt[/caption]
Both men have been complimentary of each other in the past with McGregor, 36, being snapped at President Trump’s inauguration in Washington in January.
The UFC fighter announced the meeting on X earlier today.
He said: “I land shortly in Washington for the most important meeting of my country’s future.
“I am beyond ready. THE WORLD WILL HEAR IRELAND’S CALL.”
The surprise presidential visit saw the Irishman lead a press briefing with reporters inside the famous White House Press room.
McGregor was dressed in a dark green suit, a nod to his Irish routes, with a matching tie as well as sporting a clean shaven head.
He was stood next to Trump’s new press secretary Karoline Leavitt – also in a green dress – as he answered a number of questions.
He went on a tirade against the Irish government as he described the current political situation as a “travesty”.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability.”
He added “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness” because of what he called the “illegal immigration racket”.
McGregor has been adamant that he wants to run for the Irish presidency this year with him claiming on several occasions he wants to “save” Ireland.
The former two-weight UFC world champion has been vocally campaigning against his home country’s immigration policies in recent months.
Continuing to speak in the White House, McGregor said Trump’s work ethic is “inspiring” as he said the US is Ireland’s “big sibling”.
He continued: “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. And that’s how we feel.”
At one point McGregor even signed a cap with the words “Make Ireland Great Again” on it.
Trump is well known for his support of the UFC – where McGregor became a household name across the globe.
The Republican has been seen at dozens of events alongside his pal and the organisation’s boss Dana White in the past.
He even attended UFC 309 on the Saturday night after his seismic election victory in November.
McGregor’s meeting with the US president comes less than five months after a civil jury decided he assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018.
Nikita Hand accused the Irish fighter of “brutally raping and battering” her after a Christmas night out.
McGregor has insisted he will appeal the civil court jury’s verdict as he has always maintained he had consensual sex with Hand.
Mum-of-one Hand sued both McGregor and a man called James Lawrence, alleging the pair both took part in the hotel penthouse assault.
The jury of eight women and four men found McGregor had assaulted Ms Hand but she lost her case against Lawrence.
McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC’s famed octagon since a horrific leg break in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
He was due to make his grand cage comeback last June but was forced out of a Sin City showdown with Michael Chandler with a broken left pinky toe.
It is now unclear when he will compete again, if ever, with rumours continuing to swirl over a potential return to boxing or even retirement.
Inside McGregor’s Notorious lifestyle
WITH more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor’s rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
McGregor posing alongside the Paul brothers at Trump’s inauguration in January Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
