The Prime Minister of Ireland has criticized Conor McGregor after the MMA fighter met with Donald Trump at the White House on St Patrick’s Day. The Prime Minister stated that McGregor does not represent Ireland.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin responded to the mixed martial artist after the former US President called McGregor his “favorite Irishman”.
McGregor, 36, visited The White House for a meeting in the Oval Office and a press conference where he criticized immigration policies.
He stated that “Ireland is on the verge of losing its Irish identity” due to “illegal immigration”.
The controversial fighter attacked his own government, accusing the current administration of “zero action with zero accountability”.
Ireland’s Prime Minister criticized the sportsman’s remarks made at the White House.
The Prime Minister posted on social media: “Conor McGregor’s comments are incorrect and do not represent the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the Irish people.”
Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris also distanced the government from McGregor’s controversial statements.
Harris clarified: “Let me be very clear, Conor McGregor is not in the United States representing Ireland or its people. He is there in a personal capacity.”
“He does not speak for Ireland or its people. He has no right to do so.”
“My opinion of him is very clear, well-established, previously expressed, long-standing and publicly known.”
Despite the criticism, McGregor praised Trump as “inspiring” and referred to the US as Ireland’s “big sibling”.
Trump welcomes Conor McGregor to White House on St Patrick’s Day after calling him his ‘favourite Irishman’
He added: “We want our relationship with the United States to continue, and we hope to be looked after by our big brother.”
“The United States should take care of its little brother. That’s how we see it.”
McGregor even signed a cap with the slogan “Make Ireland Great Again”.
McGregor has stated his intention to run for Irish president this year, claiming he wants to “save” Ireland.
Harris stated that he does not believe McGregor should be the next Irish president.
The deputy prime minister added: “I believe it is always better for elections to be decided by those who live in the country, by the people of Ireland.”
“That is how our presidential election will be decided.”
“I don’t want to give Mr McGregor free publicity here. I do not expect him to become the president of Ireland.”
McGregor’s invitation to the White House occurred five days after the Irish Prime Minister visited Trump at the White House.
Trump accused Ireland of taking away American pharmaceutical and other companies through taxation policies.
The US President commented: “It’s unfortunate that this happened – the Irish are clever, you are smart people, you took our pharmaceutical companies and other companies through taxation, unfair taxation.”
“They made it very attractive for companies to relocate there.”
Mr Martin acknowledged that pharmaceutical companies in Ireland were performing “very well” and suggested there was potential for these companies to expand in the US.
FIGHTER FACES ALLEGATIONS
McGregor’s meeting with the US president happens less than five months after a civil jury concluded he assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel room in December 2018.
Nikita Hand accused the Irish fighter of “violently raping and attacking” her following a Christmas night out.
McGregor has stated he will appeal the civil court jury’s decision, maintaining that he had consensual sex with Hand.
Hand sued both McGregor and a man named James Lawrence, alleging both were involved in the assault in the hotel penthouse.
The jury of eight women and four men found McGregor responsible for assaulting Ms Hand, but she lost her case against Lawrence.
