Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has hinted he may enter the race for the Irish presidency, stating that he will support “a democratic process” and expressing willingness to run if the Irish people want him to.
Speaking on the Tucker Carlson Podcast, McGregor discussed the possibility of a presidential bid, highlighting the hurdles posed by the nomination process.
Candidates must secure backing from either county councils or members of the Oireachtas—institutions he claimed are heavily influenced by government or political parties.
Despite this, McGregor stated he would “push forward” with his campaign to shed light on “my country’s plight, my country’s fight, and also my country’s delight.”
He also criticized the current political establishment, saying, “The era of the politician needs to end—it’s been unfruitful.”
Referencing U.S. President Donald Trump, McGregor praised his business-like approach to governance and said he preferred that over leaders beholden to political parties.
“That’s where I’d like to see it go,” he said, distancing himself from conventional political ideologies. “Far left and far right mean nothing to me. I’m centred, grounded—neither left nor right.”
McGregor also reflected on his evolving political awareness, noting that he was in New York for Trump’s 2016 inauguration and described witnessing public unrest.
Initially indifferent to politics, he said the pandemic era shifted his focus and engagement.
In the podcast, McGregor expressed support for Trump’s leadership, saying the U.S. president was “doing very well” and was “off to a good start” in his current campaign.
He recalled attending Trump’s St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House as a significant milestone, claiming it marked the first time “our issues were brought forward in history.”
He criticized previous visits by Irish leaders, saying former Taoiseach Micheál Martin received soft questioning from U.S. leaders like Vice President JD Vance and President Trump due to the strong Irish-American voter base. “They played it correct,” McGregor said, referencing the diplomatic tone of the exchange.
McGregor also touched on controversial topics during the hour-long interview, including immigration, law enforcement, government spending, and the Dublin riots, though specific claims were not detailed in the episode summary.
