EXCLUSIVE: Why Donald Trump and his top Cabinet officials met with Conor McGregor

President Donald Trump and top figures in his White House rolled out the red carpet for Ireland’s Conor McGregor during St. Patrick’s Day, several sources in the rooms exclusively told the Washington Reporter.

“Conor joined President Trump and top leaders in his administration to celebrate the shared ties between America and Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day,” a source familiar with his trip told the Reporter. “Conor has been vocal about the need for Ireland to have stronger border controls and policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of Irish citizens.”

Days before his visit, Trump singled McGregor out for praise as one of his favorite Irish people.

During his White House visit, McGregor warned while on the podium with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that “Ireland is on the cusp of losing its Irishness” and that an “illegal immigration racket” was “running ravage on the country.”

His remarks came following questions from the assembled press and they caused liberal politicians in his homeland to claim that they “are outrageous and do not reflect the positive diversity of modern Ireland.”

In addition to McGregor’s meeting with Trump, McGregor also met with Elon Musk, Leavitt, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Attorney General Pam Bondi Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Presidential Personnel Director Sergio Gor, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

“During his visit to the White House for St. Patrick’s Day, Conor emphasized the importance of national identity, the rule of law, and the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens,” a source told the Reporter. “He expressed frustration over Irish policies that have allowed criminal elements to exploit Ireland’s immigration system, leading to increased crime and social unrest.”

While McGregor was meeting with Trump officials, news broke that Musk’s SpaceX had successfully rescued the astronauts who had been stranded in space. “They were saving astronauts caught in Space here,” McGregor said of the Trump administration’s work, which he called “wildly impressive.”

“My own government has barely done a day’s work since its inception many months ago,” he added. “And when they were in it was just shouting over each other about who gets to sit where.”

For months, McGregor has claimed that he is interested in running for Prime Minister of Ireland.

McGregor, perhaps Ireland’s most famous Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, was eager to lend his clout to the White House in return. A source familiar with his visit told the Reporter that the video of McGregor doing his signature walk posted on X by the White House is the “best performing video of the second Trump term thus far.”

For decades, Trump has had a close relationship with the world of professional fighting. The president was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a decade ago, and UFC president Dana White regularly introduced him at campaign rallies.

The apparent bond between McGregor and Trump comes after McGregor took Trump’s second inauguration by storm, scoring a coveted invitation to the indoor ceremony.

While McGregor was in town for Trump’s festivities, he also spent hours with the Gold Star families of the Abbey Gate Coalition, whose loved ones were killed during President Joe Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Reporter exclusively covered McGregor’s meetings with the Gold Star families.