Journal De Bruxelles - Conor McGregor, fighting Irishman with political ambition

But a serious run at high office seems fanciful, analysts say, citing his tainted reputation, extreme views and the nature of Ireland's political system.

The 36-year-old former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star -- who Trump called his favourite Irishman -- met the US leader during a Saint Patrick's Day visit to the White House on Monday.

McGregor posed for a picture with his arm around Trump's shoulder as the president sat at his desk in the Oval Office, and for another with tech tycoon and powerful Trump advisor Elon Musk.

Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Musk previously backed the shaven-headed Dubliner when he spoke in the past about a possible presidential bid in Ireland.

Musk has recently spoken out in support of a number of anti-immigration parties in Europe.

During a press briefing McGregor, who wore a green "Make Ireland Great Again" cap during his visit, railed against Ireland's "illegal immigration racket".

His comments earned swift pushback from Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who also met Trump last week in the White House and received a dressing down over trade.

"Conor McGregor's remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, or the views of the people of Ireland," the premier posted on X.

- 'Notorious' -

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a sport that combines various combat techniques, and can be extremely violent.

It has been gaining popularity, particularly as Trump campaigned in 2024 with stars and promoters of the UFC series that is popular with many male voters.

Nicknamed "The Notorious," McGregor, who topped the Forbes magazine highest-paid athletes list in 2021, is one of the biggest stars in UFC, the most famous and lucrative MMA league.

He is known for his aggressive, provocative temperament -- and more recently for increasingly regular anti-immigration outbursts.

Before riots in Dublin in 2023 that were the most violent in decades, McGregor was accused of inciting anti-immigrant sentiment.

"Ireland, we are at war," McGregor wrote online in 2023, shortly before the stabbing of schoolchildren in Dublin triggered violent riots.

But the fighter himself has often fallen foul of the law.

In November 2024 he was ordered by an Irish court to pay damages to a woman who claimed that McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018.

McGregor claimed they had consensual sex and shook his head as the jury returned their verdict awarding damages of 248,603 euros ($258,559) to Nikita Hand, who brought the civil case at Dublin's High Court.

The ruling prompted a slew of sponsors to pull their support of McGregor.

Several retailers including supermarket chain Tesco withdrew whiskey and beer brands linked to him from shelves.

More recently, the Irishman was sued in a US court in January, accused of sexual assault at an NBA game in Miami in 2023.

- Little chance -

McGregor's platforming by Trump triggered widespread shock in Ireland, but also backing on social media with some saying they supported his anti-immigration messaging, if not the messenger.

But his ambitions for the Irish presidency -- a symbolic position without executive power unlike in the United States -- look unlikely to bear fruit, said Gail McElroy, a politics professor at Trinity College Dublin.

The nomination process, which requires the support of 20 members of parliament or four local authorities, is a "real barrier" to the controversial fighter.

"Elected politicians are the gatekeepers to the presidency in Ireland and money plays much less of a role here also," she told AFP.

Even if he did get nominated, McGregor, with his scandal-hit reputation, would likely fall well short of election.

"There are, of course, Irish voters who share McGregor's views and would support him, but just not the numbers required to get elected as president," she said.

D.Verstraete--JdB