A Fighter and a Felon: McGregor Finds His Match in Trump
Two men, bound by bravado and scandal, revel in their own mythology. McGregor and Trump: fighters in different arenas, but perfectly matched in chaos, controversy, and self-mythology.
Conor McGregor’s St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House, where he lavished praise upon Donald Trump while railing against immigration policies in Ireland, was not just a photo opportunity, it was an affirmation of two men who see themselves reflected in each other. Brash, litigious, and perpetually embroiled in controversy, McGregor and Trump’s affinity is more than political theatre; it is a natural alignment of personalities driven by grievance, bravado, and a shared contempt for their detractors.
In a show of loyalty befitting Trump’s need for sycophantic displays, McGregor grasped the former president’s hand, called his work ethic ‘inspiring,’ and denounced Irish immigration policies with rhetoric that mirrored the nationalist dog whistles of the American right. The Irish fighter’s unsanctioned foray into politics was met with immediate backlash from Ireland’s political leadership, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin dismissing his words as ‘wrong’ and unrepresentative of the nation. …