LONDON (AP) 鈥 Irish eyes aren't smiling on Conor McGregor 鈥檚 St. Patrick's Day bromance with President Donald Trump.
The mixed martial arts fighter's anti-immigration remarks and criticism of the Irish government during a visit to the White House on Monday were slammed by Ireland's leaders, who said he doesn't speak for the country or its citizens.
鈥淪t. Patrick鈥檚 Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship," Irish Prime Minister Miche谩l Martin wrote on the social media platform X. 鈥淐onor McGregor鈥檚 remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick鈥檚 Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.鈥
McGregor cozied up to Trump in the Oval Office as they lauded each others鈥 work ethic. The two gripped fists for a photo as McGregor wrapped his arm around the president's neck like he was about to apply a bulldog choke.
The photo op followed a short appearance in the briefing room, where McGregor criticized his country鈥檚 government as having 鈥渁bandoned the voices of the people of Ireland.鈥 He said there was 鈥渮ero action with zero accountability鈥 and complained about the 鈥渋llegal immigration racket running ravage鈥 over the country.
鈥淲e consider America our big sibling,鈥 McGregor said. "We wish to be taken care of by the big bro. You know, the United States should look after its little bro.鈥
McGregor, wearing a muted green pin-striped suit, and his family posed for photos with Trump and Elon Musk, the tech titan who is the U.S. president鈥檚 special adviser.
The Irish Times wrote that while the White House visit may have been revolutionary for fans of McGregor鈥檚 alternative voice, it was 鈥渆nough to curdle many a pint of stout on both sides of the Atlantic.鈥
McGregor's visit came a week after to hand the president a bowl of shamrocks in advance of the Irish holiday. Trump, an fan, had raised some eyebrows by calling McGregor his favorite person in Ireland, saying 鈥渉e鈥檚 got the best tattoos I鈥檝e ever seen.鈥
McGregor, past his prime in the ring, has flirted with the idea of running for president of Ireland. But legal problems could cloud his political future.
鈥淐onor McGregor has never been elected to anything, he doesn鈥檛 represent the Irish people,鈥 Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said on X. 鈥淚n fact, we鈥檙e all pretty embarrassed by him.鈥
A Dublin jury found McGregor civilly in a hotel after a night of heavy drug use. He denied the accusation and is appealing the verdict and a judgment awarding the woman 250,000 Euros ($272,000) and may have to pay legal fees topping 1 million euros ($1.1 million).
An Irish whiskey and a video game company .
McGregor also faces a lawsuit in Florida for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of the Kaseya Center, home arena of the Miami Heat, during a 2023 NBA finals game with the Denver Nuggets.
McGregor struck back at Martin's criticism, saying he doesn't represent the people of Ireland.
鈥淪hame on him for saying that, speaking down on an Irishman," McGregor told Sky News. 鈥淚 won鈥檛 speak about him personally, throw a jab. I could, I could throw many jabs at him, I could throw jabs handily.鈥
