Updated / Monday, 17 Mar 2025 15:36

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor visited the White House for St Patrick’s Day, and is due to meet US President Donald Trump this afternoon.

He was introduced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who said he is set to meet Mr Trump and other administration officials.

The fighter said he is in Washington “to raise the issues the people of Ireland face.”

He accused the Irish Government of “abandoning the voices of the people of Ireland” saying it’s “high time that America be made aware” of, what he called, a “travesty” happening in Ireland.

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Mr McGregor was highly critical of what he called Ireland’s welcoming policies towards immigration and support for asylum seekers.

The White House Press Secretary said they “couldn’t think of a better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day.”

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY FROM CONOR MCGREGOR AT THE WHITE HOUSE! 🍀🇺🇸 @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/YQPQDttUXB

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 17, 2025

Ms Leavitt said she will brief reporters later in the day on the meeting between the President and Mr McGregor.

Speaking alongside Mr McGregor in the Press Briefing Room at the White House, she said he is spending the day in Washington DC and will also “meet with some other administration officials.”

“We’re both wearing our green, this was not planned, but very festive,” she added.

A jury in a civil trial last year found Mr McGregor raped Nikita Hand in a hotel in Dublin in December 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages.