Conor McGregor drops out of presidential race in Ireland, promises political ambitions still exist |
15/09/2025 16:00 -
Conor McGregor has given up his bid to become the next president of Ireland.
On Sunday night, the former two-division UFC champion released a lengthy statement announcing his decision to withdraw from the race with the election coming up in October. During his campaign, McGregor used his massive social media following to draw attention to his unlikely run at political office with most experts believing he had little chance to actually win.
Now, McGregor has pulled his name from the candidacy, but promises his political ambitions still exist for the future.
"Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race," McGregor wrote on Twitter. "This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time. While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote. Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home.
"This campaign has sparked an important conversation about democracy in Ireland about who gets to stand, who gets to choose, and how we can ensure that the presidency truly belongs to the people. That conversation will not end with my withdrawal."
McGregor made the surprising announcement that he planned to run for Irish presidency following an appearance at the White House during a St. Patrick's Day celebration where he spent time with President Donald Trump.
While Ireland's president is more of a ceremonial role without any direct decision-making powers, McGregor sought to get elected with hopes of raising issues he felt were growing more important in his home country with a particular interest in immigration policies.
Perhaps the biggest roadblock McGregor faced was how candidates are determined for the Irish electorate. A potential candidate must either be endorsed by at least 20 members of the Irish Parliament, known as the Oireachtas, or the candidate must be nominated by four out of Ireland’s 31 local authorities.
Ultimately, that didn't matter with McGregor pulling his name from potential candidacy. He vowed he still wants to affect change in Ireland and still plans to be involved with politics in the future.
"My first venture into politics, and although I have chosen to withdraw this round, meaningful progress has been made," McGregor said. "I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election. You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation.
"This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey. I am driven by a commitment to improve lives, defend rights, and serve the Irish people with dedication and integrity. I will continue to serve my people on the global stage lobbying for Ireland's best interest's socially and economically – of that there is no doubt. This is a marathon. Not a sprint!"
While becoming president is no longer on his agenda, McGregor has recently turned his attention back to fighting again after announcing plans to return at the proposed UFC White House card in 2026. McGregor hasn't fought since suffering a broken leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier back in 2021, but returned to the UFC's anti-doping program with hopes to potentially headline the first and perhaps only fight card held at the White House.
