Controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor has warned that Irish politicians will ‘tarnish’ his unlikely bid to become Ireland’s next president.
McGregor announced his bid to become president last month, though he has now admitted in an interview with conservative American commentator Tucker Carlson that his plan to run for office is unlikely to get off the ground.
The UFC champion said there are ‘stipulations’ for running for presidential office, such as needed to be backed by four county councils or receiving 20 nominations from members of the Oireachtas, Ireland’s parliament.
‘So you can’t just run for president?’ the former Fox News host, apparently shocked by the fighter’s remarks, questioned in the trailer promoting his upcoming interview with McGregor. ‘So how is it a democracy?’
‘We are not a democratic country,’ McGregor replied. ‘And they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage. There will be accountability.’
Carlson, however, pushed back, asking McGregor: ‘Are you going to do it anyway? You’re maybe the most famous living Irishman and you’re saying things that the overwhelming majority of your politicians will not say.
‘What do you think they’re going to do to you if you keep talking this way?’
McGregor, saying he is not even ‘an iota’ fearful, starkly answered: ‘Attempt to tarnish as they are. I move forward under God, and my nation can see.’
Controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor told American commentator Tucker Carlson that Irish politicians will ‘tarnish’ his unlikely bid to become Ireland’s next president
Carlson asked how the Oireachtas would respond if McGregor ‘did it anyway’. The UFC champion, who said he was not even ‘an iota’ fearful, issued a stark response: ‘Attempt to tarnish as they are. I move forward under God, and my nation can see’
Carlson, who is also a staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, conducted a two-hour interview with McGregor on Tuesday on the topic of immigration.
The promo video revealed that the fighter has vowed to take a hardline stance on migration and work to help Ireland maintain its ‘Irishness’.
McGregor criticised governmental ‘overspending’ and alleged that public funds were being used to support illegal aliens.
‘That is one my issues here. The people of Ireland, the overspending, that’s going on,’ the MMA fighter said.
‘This is our public wealth being administered into private hands, enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration that is changing the fabric of my country.
He added: ‘Ireland is very close to losing its Irishness and we will not let that happen.’
McGregor doubled down on his anti-migrant stance today as he promoted his campaign with a violent threat on X, an apparent response to reports of an alleged attack by foreign nationals in Letterkenny who reportedly told their victim ‘this is our town now’.
‘Straight in, I will be. Before you could finish this article, I am in this town, army in tow,’ the athlete tweeted, adding: ‘Vote McGregor.’
McGregor has received endorsements from misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and tech billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk, and his anti-immigration stance has seen him welcomed with open arms by the MAGA movement.
The 36-year-old is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury in Dublin found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay damages.
In the midst of this legal controversy, he was invited to the White House by Trump for St Patrick’s Day – a move that was met with condemnation from Irish politicians and many members of the public. Just days later, he announced his wish to be president.
McGregor hosted US TV host Tucker Carlson at his pub in Crumlin, south Dublin, on Tuesday
McGregor put out an open invitation to his supporters to join them at the pub and was pictured pouring pints behind the bar
On Tuesday night, former Fox News host Carlson, who is also a staunch Trump supporter, conducted a two-hour interview with McGregor on the topic of immigration
McGregor doubled down on his anti-migrant stance today as he promoted his campaign with a violent threat on X. The remark was an apparent response to reports of an alleged attack by foreign nationals in Letterkenny who reportedly told their victim ‘this is our town now’
Ahead of their interview on Tuesday, McGregor took Carlson on a tour of the Irish capital and its parliament buildings, with the pair trailed by an entourage and a Rolls-Royce as they walked the city’s streets.
They later met at the Black Forge Inn, the fighter’s pub in Crumlin, south Dublin, with a crowd of McGregor’s supporters – including some wearing MAGA hats – taking free pints poured by the UFC fighter.
Before the pub gathering, McGregor put out an open invitation to his more than 10 million X followers, writing that there would be ‘live music, top tier food, great drink, great people, and a happy and celebratory atmosphere’.
He announced to those attending that there would be a free bar and was pictured pouring pints of his own-brand stout. At one point he offered one to Carlson, a teetotaler, who declined.
McGregor welcomed the chance to be interviewed by Carlson, who famously sat down with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and conducted the first on-camera interview with Trump after his recent election.
The UFC fighter labelled their discussion ‘a great cause’, telling the Irish Times: ‘We had a great chat with Tucker Carlson highlighting the issues Ireland is facing, Ireland’s plight, Ireland’s fight and also Ireland’s delight.’
He went on: ‘It’s not all doom and gloom and we want to keep a positive outlook and move incrementally, step by step, to a better Ireland.’
McGregor complimented Carlson as having a ‘great listening ear’ and said he had spoken ‘from the heart’ and looked forward to his interview being ‘absorbed by the Irish public’.
Speaking to journalists, McGregor reportedly said that he believes he has the endorsement of Trump for his own presidential ambitions.
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, invited Conor McGregor to speak at the White House in Washington on March 18, 2025
McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury in Dublin found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay damages. Pictured with his partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024
McGregor announced the plans in an Instagram post where he is stood ahead of a private jet and wearing a Make Ireland Great Again cap
One of McGregor’s supporters stood by the bar waiting for a photo with the fighter, cheering ‘President McGregor’ as he served pints.
‘He doesn’t need to be elected. He’s ordained. He’s got Trump’s blessing,’ another McGregor supporter at the bar told the Telegraph.
While McGregor may enjoy some support from a small portion of the electorate, there is evidence that mainstream voters and officials have no interest in him taking political office.
A survey of 134 politicians found every single respondent rejected the notion.
Presidential candidates must receive the support of 20 Oireachtas members, of which there are 234 in total, or the backing of four of Ireland’s local authorities in order to stand.
Every one of the 134 politicians who replied to a survey conducted by Sky News said they would not support McGregor running, with none putting the ‘maybe’ option.
Meanwhile and Irish Times survey of councils found that none of the 187 local councillors who responded would give their backing to McGregor.
One Irish Senator told Sky: ‘I consider him to be a tacky, moronic vulgarian. I would never consider him even remotely a suitable person for a nomination.’
UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor of Ireland celebrates after defeating Eddie Alvarez in their UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 205 event at Madison Square Garden on November 12, 2016 in New York City
Conor McGregor in front of the Trump and Vance portraits at the White House
Garret Ahearn, Fine Gael Senator, added: ‘I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position.’
According to Irish media outlet Gript, McGregor’s co-defendant in the civil rape case taken by Nikita Hand, James Lawrence, was also in attendance at the pub gathering.
McGregor is also facing another civil case in Florida amid claims he sexually assaulted a woman in Miami in 2023, an allegation his legal team says he denies.
He was previously found guilty of a number of driving offences and pleaded guilty to one charge of assault after video surfaced of him punching a man in a pub in Dublin in 2019.
