Conor McGregor at the White House: A Celebration of Violence, Ego and Bigotry

By Kerryann White

Conor McGregor, the notoriously controversial MMA fighter, received an invitation to the White House and met with US President Donald Trump on St. Patrick’s Day 2025. The two have been pictured smiling and laughing together, exchanging words of flattery and mutual praise, under the guise of celebrating Irish culture. Yet, this was not the celebration of Irish identity that both McGregor and Trump believed it to be, rather McGregor’s presence at the White House was an insult to the people of Ireland, and a grotesque reflection of how rape culture, toxic masculinity and bigotry are upheld by those in power. 

The Glorification of Violent Men

In recent months, Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay over 250,000 euros after a jury found that he had sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in 2018 [1], and his constant push-back and denial of this has only cemented his lack of remorse. Similarly, his new ally Trump was also found guilty by a jury for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in 1996, leaving him to pay approximately 5,000,000 dollars. [2] These harrowing cases allow for this meet-up to be deemed a textbook example of how the celebration of violent masculinity is on the rise and challenging rape culture becomes all the more difficult when those who occupy positions of power are not only complicit in it, but they actively benefit from its persistence. Their status shields them from facing any societal repercussions, granting them the ability to rebrand and retain influence with minimal consequence. 

My question is this: how can we expect young people to speak up and take a stand against misogyny and sexual violence when figures like these are showcased as role models and championed across the globe? This is only teaching young and impressionable boys that this type of behaviour is inspiring, and simultaneously teaching young girls and survivors that speaking out might change nothing. This ongoing reinforcement of a culture that tolerates and protects perpetrators is incredibly dangerous, and it makes me worry deeply for the youth exposed to this content, as well as the future of justice. 

Rachel Morrogh, the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, has publicly condemned this event, describing it as a “really very sinister” meeting, while also highlighting how it seems to be a part of an elaborate scheme to rebuild his reputation following the civil case brought by Nikita Hand. [3] She is not alone in this view, for many across Ireland feel as though it is a disservice to allow McGregor the platform to share his damaging views and elevate his voice. 

Make Ireland Hate Again?

Unfortunately, the flaws of this meeting extend even further than what has already been discussed. McGregor proceeded to use this opportunity to push his extreme anti-immigration regime, claiming “Ireland is at the cusp of losing its Irishness.” He continued to criticise the Irish government and said that they have “abandoned the voices” of Irish people as rural towns are being “overrun” by immigrants. [4] The fighter continues to push this toxic and exclusionary narrative in his claims that Dublin specifically is no longer a safe place to be, a bitter irony coming from a man found liable for sexual abuse. It is crucial that those listening to his attempt to push this far-right strand of Irish “nationalism”  understand that insinuating that there has been a rise in crime among ethnic minorities, without giving actual facts or backed-up statistics, is a form of racist propaganda that must not go unnoticed. This rhetoric distorts reality, and he is carefully weaponizing the genuine anxieties and hardships of Irish people to craft a narrative built on division and resentment. 

The most prominent leaders of Ireland had much to say about this, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin denounced his claims and expressed that his remarks “do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.” [4] This statement aligns with the thoughts of many across the nation, who feel as though McGregor has hijacked this day of celebration in his promotion of exclusion and self-interest. 

What I find the most heartbreaking is the way that this rhetoric clashes with what Ireland has long stood for. A nation built on community and resilience, who have historically known what it is like to need to seek refuge and to build a life abroad, is now wrestling with the rising tide of hate and misinformation towards those from different communities. People are being manipulated into believing that immigrants are to blame for many of their hardships, but this is a calculated lie spun by those in power who thrive on division, using fear to distract from the real sources of inequality and justice happening today. It’s time to wake up to the false narrative that is being carefully constructed by figures such as Trump and McGregor and choose awareness, empathy and critical thought from here on out.

Bibliography  

[1] Quinn, Ben. “Conor McGregor Ordered to Pay Nikita Hand £1.5m Costs in Civil Case.” The Guardian, December 6, 2024   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/06/conor-mcgregor-ordered-to-pay-nikita-hands-15m-costs-in-civil-case

[2]  Neumeister, Larry Peltz, Jennifer & R. Sisak, Michael.  “Trump Found Liable for Sex Abuse in E. Jean Carroll Trial.” AP News, May 9, 2023.   https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db

[3] O’Carroll, Lisa . “‘Really Very Sinister’: Irish Rape Crisis Charity Criticises Conor McGregor Meeting with Trump.” The Guardian, March 19, 2025.   https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/19/conor-mcgregor-trump-meeting-sinister-irish-rape-crisis-charity

[4]   O’Carroll, Lisa. “Conor McGregor anti-immigration rant in White House condemned by Irish PM”. The Guardian, March 17, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/17/conor-mcgregor-anti-immigration-rant-white-house-condemned-by-irish-pm