Wake up fight fans! Another coin dropped in the Conor McGregor is never coming back to the UFC jar with his recent visit to the White House. “I’m here to raise the issues the people of Ireland face. Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland, and it’s high time that America is made aware of what is going on in Ireland,” the bombastic Irishman, decked in all green for St Patrick’s Day, thundered from the White House press podium on Monday.
The former two-division UFC champ, of course, had called himself the “only logical choice” to be his native Republic of Ireland’s President last year. It is worth noting that the Republic of Ireland is a parliamentary democracy, and the President is a mostly ceremonial role, akin to the British monarch. The real power lies with the Prime Minister (called Taoiseach in Ireland), as they do in parliamentary systems. But then again, the Dubliner never claimed political science is his strongest suit.
McGregor’s visit to the White House, where ‘The Notorious’ met President Donald Trump, solidified many people’s view that ‘Mystic Mac’ may be looking to change sports and enter the most brutal one of all. The world of politics! Among those who hold this view is fellow UFC star, Henry Cejudo, who actually was pretty impressed with the whole thing.
“You know what, I actually applaud Conor for that, man. For him to, you know, and he put his President on blast, bro. He was like ‘he ain’t doing s–t.’ Like, you know, he did in a political way, but he was right, man. I think the fact that Conor McGregor wants to go out there, says a lot about the sport of mixed martial arts.” Cejudo told co-host and fellow former UFC champ Kamaru Usman on their ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast.
The fact that even a guy like President Donald J Trump is willing to give him time the time of day, to able to go out there and see him at the Oval Office. I mean it must be awesome to be able to do that. Who knows, man, there may be a potential future if Conor McGregor can get his s–t together, that he may have something– he may have a political career,” ‘Triple C’ added.
March 17, 2025, Washington, Dc, United States: U.S President Donald Trump, chats with Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor for St. Patrick’s day, at the Oval Office of the White House, March 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Trump welcomed McGregor who was recently found liable for raping a woman. Washington United States – ZUMAp138 20250317_zaa_p138_001 Copyright: xDanielxTorok/WhitexHousex
There are a few problems with this idea that come to mind immediately. Over the past few years, the Irishman’s reputation has taken an absolute nose-dive. From allegations of substance abuse to losing the civil suit against Nikita Hand, ‘Mystic Mac’ isn’t really the model of an ideal citizen at the moment.
And Cejudo, well aware of this feels that the Irish former UFC champ has “got to really clean those sticky hands of his.” This, of course, is infinitely easier said than done. And given how the Irish political system is set up, the former double champ actually being elected to the highest, most powerful political office in his country seems nigh impossible.
Why do Conor McGregor’s political aspirations seem bound to hit a wall?
In the USA, the President is the head of the executive branch and is responsible for enforcing laws. The legislature is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, who make laws and are wholly separate from the Presidency and the judiciary, who is responsible for upholding the laws. A neat little system with three discreet, separate branches who do their own jobs.
But that is not the case in the Republic of Ireland. While the President is also popularly elected there, and on paper the head of the executive, he has little actual power. The Irish President can only make decisions on the advice of his cabinet which is ultimately headed by the Prime Minister. The Irish PM, like all parliamentary systems, is a member of and elected by the lower house of Parliament (called Dail Eireann in Ireland). The Dail Eireann, in turn, is elected by the people of Ireland.
On the occasion of St Patricks Day, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, invited Conor McGregor to speak at the White House in Washington On the occasion of St Patricks Day, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, invited Conor McGregor to speak at the White House in Washington on March 18, 2025 Irish mixed martial arts MMA champion Conor McGregor made particularly virulent anti-immigration remarks that drew the ire of the Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin On the occasion of St Patricks Day, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, invited Conor McGregor to speak at the White House in Washington on March 18, 2025 Irish mixed martial arts MMA champion Conor McGregor made particularly virulent anti-immigrant PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxSUIxONLY Copyright: xPresidentxDonaldxJ.xtrump/XxviaxBestimagexPresidentxDonaldxJ.xtrump/XxviaxBestimagex
This essentially means that the party that secures the majority in the lower house of the Irish Parliament elects the PM. We assume that if ‘Mystic Mac’ wants to get into politics and wants to change things, he would want to become the PM and not the largely powerless President.
So if the Dubliner wants to become the PM of Ireland, he will have to either-
Join one of the handful of existing major parties
Make his own political party and secure the required majority of 88 seats in the Dail Eireann
The former seems out of the question since ‘Mystic Mac’ has been criticizing the policies of these very parties, and the latter would way too much time and money to do and may fail even after his best attempts. So unless McGregor wants to dedicate his entire remaining life to politics, it is very unlikely he will ever become the Irish PM.
Unless, of course, he isn’t really interested in changing anything and just wants to become the President of Ireland for his own good and the bragging rights. What do you think about Henry Cejudo’s take on Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House?
The post “I Actually Applaud Conor” – Conor McGregor Gets Unexpected Backing Over Visit to Donald Trump’s St. Patrick’s Day Party appeared first on EssentiallySports.
