Conor McGregor, the legendary UFC fighter, will run for the Irish presidency

He wishes to resist a long-awaited new migration agreement from the European Union.

In Ireland, at least 20 of the 234 members of the lower and upper houses of parliament must nominate a candidate for president.

or by four of the thirty-one local councils in Ireland.

Conor McGregor, a former professional mixed martial artist from Ireland, has declared his plan to run for Irish president in 2026.

He announced his candidacy on social media, stating that one of the main reasons he was running was his disapproval of the EU Migration Pact.

With more than 15 million Facebook fans and 46 million Instagram followers, McGregor’s news went viral right once, evoking a range of responses from the general public.

According to McGregor, his primary reason for running is to oppose the Irish government’s adoption of the EU Migration Pact, which aims to more fairly divide the processing of asylum requests among the member states.

McGregor emphasized that increasing public participation in important national decisions is central to his vision for Ireland’s future.

McGregor and Trump’s White House Visit Initiates Discussion

On St. Patrick’s Day, McGregor and Donald Trump made an appearance at the White House that elicited conflicting responses.

The Requirements for Irish Presidential Candidates

It is still unclear if McGregor will be able to get nominations.

Public Responses to McGregor’s Declaration

Josh Chaplin: “Bro met Trump in the White House Oval Office and now believes he can be president of Ireland.”

Theresa Mahony: “The nation is divided, and that’s what’s wrong. If Conor can return Ireland to being a nation of the Irish, I will vote for him.

Nessa Hegerty: “Predatory men are not permitted to run for president.” Try America; they currently have one, and I have no doubt that they will allow you to run for it next.

“That will never happen,” said Brian Reilly. In Ireland, you need the nomination of four local authorities or twenty members of the Oireachtas to run for president. I predict that none of them will nominate him.

Say what you want about the man, people, but in these wild times, it’s leaders like Conor and Trump who stand up for their people, not all the avaricious politicians who are ruining Ireland, said Darren O’Brien.

Will McGregor’s Offer Be Accepted?

McGregor’s aspirations to become president have undoubtedly upended Irish politics, but it will be difficult for him to get the necessary nominations.

As the 2025 election draws near, his populist appeal, celebrity status, and contentious background could work in his favor or against him.