McGregor’s visit to the White House isn’t entirely unexpected, considering Trump’s endorsement of far-right and anti-immigrant figures.
McGregor, a contentious personality in his home country of Ireland but heavily followed by conservative white American men, declares his intention to run for the presidency of Ireland later this year with a platform focused on anti-immigration.
However, he is viewed as a long shot for inclusion on the official ballot for the election provisionally set for October, as candidates need formal support from at least 20 current members of parliament or four local councils.
Dublin officials were privately horrified that Trump would highlight someone widely believed to have incited hatred against non-white immigrants, especially in light of the riots that occurred in the Irish capital in November 2023.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, who recently returned from a trip to the U.S. and a visit to the White House, remarked that McGregor’s stance on immigration “does not represent the essence of St. Patrick’s Day or the sentiments of the Irish people.”
Foreign Minister Simon Harris, present in New York City for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, emphasized that Trump is “perfectly entitled” to invite anyone to the White House — yet he noted that McGregor possesses “no mandate” to represent Ireland.
