Originally appeared on E! Online
Conor McGregor was feeling patriotic on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Irish mixed martial arts fighter made an appearance at the White House alongside Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt March 17, where he gushed over the relationship between Ireland and the United States.
“We wish to be taken care of by the big bro,” McGregor, who attended President Donald Trump‘s inauguration in January, said in the White House press briefing room. “The United States should look after its little bro. And that’s how we feel.”
Leavitt shared that the 36-year-old was set to meet with the president later that day.
The UFC fighter also appeared in a video posted to the official White House X account where he wished America a happy St. Patrick’s Day in addition to posing for a photo in front of Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance‘s official portraits. He also signed a “Make Ireland Great Again” hat during his outing.
McGregor had announced his visit to the White House on social media that morning, writing, “I land shortly in Washington for the most important meeting of my countries future. I am beyond ready.”
He added, “THE WORLD WILL HEAR IRELANDS CALL.”
“I do happen to like your fighter. He’s got the best tattoos I’ve ever seen… Conor’s great,” he told the Taoiseach at the time, per Fox News. “Ireland’s always had a lot of good fighters. You know why? Because they’re tough people, they’re smart people, and they’re passionate people.”
More from E! Online
Trump had recently sung the athlete’s praises during Prime Minister Micheál Martin‘s official visit to the White House a week prior.
“I do happen to like your fighter. He’s got the best tattoos I’ve ever seen… Conor’s great,” he told the Taoiseach at the time, per Fox News. “Ireland’s always had a lot of good fighters. You know why? Because they’re tough people, they’re smart people, and they’re passionate people.”
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”qme” dir=”ltr”>🍀 <a href=”https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TheNotoriousMMA</a> <a href=”https://t.co/5GEKWLR8qg”>pic.twitter.com/5GEKWLR8qg</a></p>— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href=”https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1901641493455995078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
McGregor isn’t the only White House visitor to turn heads recently.
After photos of Elon Musk‘s son X Æ A-12, 4—who he shares with ex Grimes along with Exa Dark Sideræl, 3, and Techno Mechanicus, 2—went viral after he sat next to the president during a press conference in the Oval Office, his mother condemned the appearance.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“I would really like people to stop posting images of my kid everywhere,” Grimes said in an interview with TIME published Feb. 25. “I think fame is something you should consent to. Obviously, things will just be what they are. But I would really, really appreciate that.”
Keep reading for a look back at the start of Trump’s second presidency.
Barron Trump, Melania Trump & Donald Trump
Ivanka Trump
Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump & Melania Trump
“Welcome home,” President Joe Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House.
Usha Vance, Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris & JD Vance
Michael Boulous & Tiffany Trump
Pregnant Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos joined her father at the St. John’s Church services.
Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner
Former advisor Ivanka was joined at the services by husband Jared Kushner and their kids Arabella, Joseph and Theodore.
Elon Musk
Trump pal Elon Musk took in the view as he arrived inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar & Donald Trump
Before delivering her speech, Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar led Biden and Trump out of the White House. “While we have major differences of opinions on policy and the like,” she said of chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, “I want to make sure this works,” Klobuchar said of the ceremony.”
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush & Laura Bush
George W. Bush, Laura Bush & Barack Obama
Mike Pence
Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence turned up solo for the ceremony.
Eric Adams
New York City mayor Eric Adams worked the room at the Capitol.
Janet Jones & Wayne Gretzky
Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet Jones were among those who decided to take a shot at watching the inauguration.
Rupert Murdoch & Elena Zhukova
Former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch (joined by wife Elena Zhukova) was among the billionaire businesspeople in attendance.
Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Tech talk: Tesla CEO Musk socialized with Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Robert F. Kennedy
Trump’s pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy came to watch him get sworn in.
Mitch McConnell & Elaine Chao
Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell held tight to wife Elaine Chao.
Jake Paul & Logan Paul
Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai & Elon Musk
Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr.
Barron Trump
Trump’s youngest child—New York University student Barron—traveled to Washington, D.C. to watch him take the oath of office for the second time.
Christopher Macchio
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio was tapped to sing the National Anthem. “I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread across the National Mall,” he acknowledged to the Associated Press ahead of the events. “Unfortunately I won’t be getting that visual while I perform, but it’s still going to be such a tremendous honor.”
Shou Zi Chew
Hours after TikTok went dark (and then restored service) in the United States, CEO Shou Zi Chew turned up at the inauguration.
Tim Cook, Vivek Ramaswamy & Kristi Noem
Apple CEO Tim Cook posed alongside onetime presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem.
