If you’ve spent any time on X (formerly Twitter) lately, you’ve likely seen the clips. Conor McGregor, draped in a tailored green suit, standing in the White House briefing room or shadowboxing in front of the Department of the Taoiseach. The headlines were everywhere. People were genuinely asking if "The Notorious" could actually trade the Octagon for Áras an Uachtaráin.
Honestly, the idea of McGregor running for president felt like a fever dream that just wouldn't end.
For a few months in 2025, it looked like Ireland might be headed for its own "Trump moment." McGregor wasn't just tweeting; he was meeting with Donald Trump and Elon Musk, sporting a "Make Ireland Great Again" hat, and promising to dissolve the Dáil (the Irish parliament) if the government didn't start listening to the people.
But then, the October 2025 election came and went. And Conor McGregor’s name wasn't even on the ballot.
The Reality of McGregor Running for President
The hype was massive, but the math was brutal. In Ireland, you don't just declare you’re running and start printing stickers. To actually get your name on that ballot, the Irish Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) sets a pretty high bar. You need the backing of either 20 members of the Oireachtas (Parliament) or four local city or county councils.
McGregor had neither.
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A Sky News survey of 134 Irish politicians in early 2025 found exactly zero support for his bid. Not one TD or Senator was willing to put their name next to his. One politician famously called him a "tacky, moronic vulgarian." Others were even less kind, pointing to his recent civil court case where a jury found him liable for sexual assault and awarded damages of nearly €250,000.
Basically, the political establishment locked the doors and bolted the windows.
Why he actually pulled out
By September 15, 2025, the writing was on the wall. McGregor posted a long statement on X announcing his withdrawal from the race. He called the nomination process a "straitjacket" and a "democratic deficit."
He realized he wasn't going to get those four council nominations. Westmeath County Council had already passed a motion specifically saying they wouldn't support him. He was scheduled to speak to Dublin City Council to make his pitch, but he cancelled the appearance and ended the campaign instead.
It’s worth noting that while he has millions of followers globally, that didn't translate to local support. One poll during the heat of the campaign showed him at just 7% popularity among actual Irish voters. Compare that to Catherine Connolly, the independent candidate who eventually won the presidency in a landslide with over 63% of the vote.
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What was the platform, anyway?
McGregor’s campaign wasn't about traditional policy papers. It was a cocktail of anti-establishment anger and specific grievances.
- The EU Migration Pact: This was his biggest talking point. He promised that as President, he would force a referendum on the pact, which aims to reform asylum seeker processing across Europe.
- Mass Deportations: He called for the removal of "criminal and radicalized imports" and those he claimed were a strain on the welfare system.
- Cherishing Children: He often cited the 1916 Proclamation, arguing the current government has abandoned Irish children in favor of "mass migration."
- Active Presidency: He claimed the role of President—which is largely ceremonial in Ireland—should be used to summon "charlatans" in government to answer to the people.
It was populist, it was loud, and it was tailor-made for social media clips. But in Ireland, the President doesn't actually have the power to dissolve the Dáil at will or force referendums on a whim. The role is more of a moral compass and a representative of the state. McGregor’s "solution-driven" approach didn't really mesh with the constitutional reality of the job.
The Aftermath of the 2025 Election
The 2025 election ended up being a three-way race between Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael), and Jim Gavin (the former Dublin GAA manager who ran for Fianna Fáil before a bizarre late-stage withdrawal that still left him on the ballot).
Connolly’s victory was historic. She became Ireland’s third female president, following in the footsteps of Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. The "McGregor effect" ended up being more of a footnote than a revolution.
However, don't think he's gone for good. In his withdrawal speech, McGregor was very clear: "this will not be my last election." He’s 37. In the world of politics, that’s a baby. He’s already hinted at looking toward future general elections or the next presidential cycle in 2032.
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What most people get wrong about the bid
A lot of international observers thought this was a joke or just a PR stunt for his whiskey or the UFC. But if you watch the videos of him standing outside government buildings in the rain, he seemed dead serious. He wasn't just looking for clicks; he was looking for a fight.
The problem was he brought a sword to a chess match. He expected his celebrity to break the system, but the Irish political system is designed specifically to keep "celebrity" outsiders out. It requires a level of local, grassroots boringness—attending council meetings, shaking hands in community halls—that doesn't fit into a 15-second Instagram Reel.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're following McGregor's political trajectory, here is what you actually need to watch:
- Watch the 2029 General Election: If McGregor is serious, he won't wait for the next presidency. He might try to run for a seat in the Dáil as a TD. This is a much easier path for a populist candidate than the presidency.
- Monitor the "Irish Patriot" Movement: McGregor has aligned himself with a vocal, anti-immigration movement in Ireland. Whether he leads it or just amplifies it, this group is becoming more organized.
- Check the Legal Fallout: His political future is still heavily tied to his legal reputation. Any further civil or criminal issues will continue to be the primary weapon used against him by the "establishment" he hates.
McGregor running for president in 2025 didn't change the government, but it did change the conversation. It showed that there is a segment of the Irish population that feels totally ignored by the mainstream parties. Whether or not McGregor is the one to lead them next time is still the multi-million dollar question.