An Irish rape crisis charity has expressed concern over Conor McGregor’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, calling it a “sinister” gesture that could help rehabilitate the mixed martial artist’s image.
Rachel Morrogh, the CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, sent a letter to the U.S. embassy in Dublin to raise her concerns about the meeting, which occurred on Monday, Saint Patrick’s Day.
In an interview, Morrogh stated that the meeting, which took place just months after McGregor was found liable for rape in an Irish civil case, sent a troubling message suggesting that “there is a path to redemption leading directly to the White House.”
She added, “We believe the meeting between Trump and McGregor was highly concerning. It’s an attempt to restore McGregor’s severely tarnished reputation. What shocks us most is that the revered office of the President of the United States is being used to sanitize Conor McGregor’s image.”
Back in November, McGregor was ordered by a civil court to pay nearly €250,000 (£210,000) in damages to a woman who accused him of raping and assaulting her in a Dublin hotel in 2018. McGregor, who maintains that the sex was consensual, is appealing the ruling, with a hearing scheduled in the Dublin High Court.
During his visit to the White House, McGregor used his platform to criticize the Irish government’s immigration policies, claiming that Ireland was “potentially losing its Irishness” and accusing some rural towns of being “overrun in one swoop.”
On Saint Patrick’s Day, McGregor, dressed in a green suit, was invited to speak in the White House briefing room alongside the president’s press secretary. He later met with Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk in the Oval Office, accompanied by his partner and children.
Conor McGregor, 36, has garnered support from controversial figures, including self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and anti-immigration advocates in Ireland, whose influence has been amplified by Elon Musk’s retweets.
However, McGregor’s assertions about representing the Irish people on the issue of immigration have been met with widespread criticism. Taoiseach Micheál Martin dismissed McGregor’s claims as “simply wrong,” while Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe expressed his dismay, stating that his “heart fell” upon hearing about the meeting. In response, McGregor claimed the Irish government had taken “zero action with zero accountability” on the matter.
Public Backlash and Media Reaction
The meeting between McGregor and Trump has garnered significant media attention, with much of the coverage focusing on the political and social implications of the encounter. The media has been quick to highlight the contradictions in McGregor’s public persona—on one hand, a sporting champion admired by millions, and on the other, a figure embroiled in legal troubles and controversial associations.
Public sentiment has been divided. Supporters of McGregor argue that he has the right to meet with whomever he chooses, pointing to his status as a global figure and the freedom to make personal decisions. However, the critics are vocal in their condemnation, viewing the meeting as a harmful endorsement of Trump’s values and a reflection of McGregor’s disregard for the broader societal implications.
The media’s portrayal of McGregor’s actions has shifted from admiration to scrutiny, with many questioning his decision-making and his judgment in associating with someone like Trump. The backlash is not just limited to Ireland but spans across McGregor’s global fanbase, many of whom are grappling with the dissonance between his athletic achievements and his controversial personal choices.
While immigration has sparked tensions in some regions of Ireland, there is no evidence to support McGregor’s claims that towns are being “overrun.” According to government data, just over 45,000 people have applied for asylum in Ireland over the past three years, a small figure relative to the country’s population of about 5.3 million.
Some speculate that McGregor might be positioning himself for a run for the Irish presidency later this year.
