Conor McGregor: Ireland governed by people with ill intentions
Conor McGregor said that 'like a lot of countries in the western sphere, it [Ireland] is being governed by people with ill intentions of its people'. Picture: Leah Farrell
Conor McGregor's hour-long sit down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was released on Friday evening, with the controversial fighter taking aim at what he branded the 'ill intentions' of those in Government.
Carlson, a high-profile, right-wing American commentator who has previously interviewed Vladimir Putin, visited McGregor in his Dublin pub on Tuesday evening to discuss his plans to run for the presidency later this year.
In the interview, which was filmed in the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Dublin and broadcast on Carlson's social media channels, McGregor, criticised the Government, who he said were responsible for the 'erasure of Irish culture', and what he called 'mass' immigration, but also admitted that his presidential ambitions may not get off the ground as Ireland is "not a democratic country."
He told Carlson, who was fired by Fox News in 2023, that "like a lot of countries in the western sphere, it [Ireland] is being governed by people with ill intentions of its people."
The former mixed martial arts fighter claimed: "They have not got the interest of their people at, at its heart.
"However, our country stays strong."
In a segment of the interview referring to "Ireland’s economic crisis," McGregor said the rising cost of living was a “national emergency” without offering solutions.
McGregor, who has several convictions for road traffic offences, then made bizarre and unsubstantiated claims about the Garda Traffic Corps, which he referred to as “the most successful divisions” for “convictions”.
“It has caused untold stress onto the people of Ireland. I wondered the amount of suicide and the amount of lives lost and families destroyed over the stress of the Traffic Corps institution being caught driving without tax or no NCT."
McGregor's most recent motoring conviction in July 2024 saw him disqualified from driving for two years.
On the issue of immigration, McGregor continued with his hardline stance, claiming the citizens of Ireland "do not feel like first rate citizens" and "what is going on here is an abomination, a travesty, and it cannot continue for much longer".
He was not quizzed or challenged on any of his statements by Carlson and went on to accuse the Government of using what he called "intimidation tactics".
"They're using bullying tactics. They're using diversion tactics. They're using public funds and public wealth to enrich private people and private industries to alter the thinking of the public. And we say no more.
Asked by Carlson to describe the “scale” of “mass migration”, he referred to the "olden days" and the "McGregor clan", and said you were "hung, drawn, and quartered" if you "commit treason against your nation".
On his meeting with US president Trump in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day, which was sharply criticised by the Government and opposition here, McGregor said: "We had a great moment in the Oval Office with President Trump where we got to speak before the press, in the White House where we got to speak our case, it was the first time it had happened in our history, really."
He later recalled being present for Trump's inauguration in 2016, although he said it was "not officially".
"I was fighting in Madison Square Garden for my second UFC world title.
"I remember Trump had been just voted in and he won the election and it was uproar on the streets and anger and fear I suppose."
McGregor said that at the time, politics wasn't on his mind. But that rather, he was "just an observer".
"Ireland was not really going through what it was going through at that stage in 2016. Although it was rising, it was unbeknownst to me and many in the country.
"I was there the second time in 2024, most recently and it was elation and excitement, and I thought it was good to see."
On the question of tariffs, McGregor said "tariffs are no good for nobody" but he didn't provide any details on what next steps the US or EU should take.
"The people of Ireland are struggling to heat their homes. So there are many people who are seeing this tariff situation as a 'we got you' moment for our Government," he said.
"Tariffs are no good for nobody".
"Why haven't we been hitting, why have we been hitting them with tariffs?
"I'm not so much against it. I'm watching it. I wish for economic success for my nation and, Ireland deserves it."
When asked about his ambitions to run for the Áras later this year, McGregor said he was of the belief that "the era of the politician must end", but admitted his presidential ambitions may not succeed.
“There are stipulations. You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are mostly party affiliates.”
McGregor also told Carlson he doesn’t believe Ireland is a “democratic country” and that “they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage”.
He went on to say that: "I’m just gonna keep requesting the democratic process to play out and allow people to decide and see where it falls.”
When Carlson asked him to respond to CNN's description of him as “the leader of Ireland’s far-right”, McGregor said: “All of these terminologies mean nothing to me. I'm a family man. I'm an employer of the country. I'm a supporter of many people and I care about my land and the safety of its citizens and the prosperity of its citizens.”
McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury found he had assaulted Nikita Hand, in a Dublin hotel room 2018, and ordered him to pay damages. The case was not raised at any stage during the interview.
The pair went on to talk about Rosie O’Donnell, the US talk show host who recently moved to Ireland after pledging to leave the US if Trump regained office.
Speaking of whether or not he would have her deported if he were to be in power, McGregor said: “Has she got a criminal background? How does she enter the country? Does she enter the country illegally? Has she assimilated with our community? Does she hold our beliefs? Is she an upstanding member of our community? If she is not, well, then she's gotta go."
He went on to say he does not know her, but that she “spoke a bit ill” of him on television.
