Conor McGregor announces plans to run for President of Ireland, expert says he has ‘close to zero’ chance of winning

Conor McGregor wants to be president.

The UFC superstar announced plans to run to become the next President of Ireland following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump this past week during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration in America. McGregor has been speaking out against immigration problems in his home country — a subject near and dear to Trump’s administration as well — and with that he confirmed plans to run for elected office.

“Ireland, the choice is yours and it is an easy one,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “Vote for me as your President and we will SAVE IRELAND TOGETHER!”

In a longer post, McGregor detailed his plans if he’s elected as president while continuing to speak out about the EU Migration and Asylum Pact — “a new framework aimed at managing migration and asylum in Europe.”

“Ireland must fully implement the EU Migration Pact by June 12, 2026,” McGregor wrote. “So between now and 12 June 2026, several pieces of legislation have to be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas & then signed by the President. The next presidential election must take place by [Nov. 11, 2025]. Who else will stand up to Government and oppose this bill? Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!

“For clarity also, as President, I would put forth this bill to referendum. Although I oppose greatly this pact, it is neither mine nor governments choice to make. It is the people of Irelands choice! Always! That is a true democracy! I would also be curious to hear our government officials reasoning for agreeing with this pact so fervently. I would love to hear the debates! Followed then by vote! This is the future of Ireland with me as President. All citizens of Ireland to have a voice and a choice on their future! God bless our people! Vote McGregor and have your voice heard!”

Now it must be noted the President of Ireland is the head of state but the actual functionality is largely a ceremonial role.

As noted by RTE in 2023, the powers bestowed upon the President of Ireland “shall be exercisable and performable by him only on the advice of the Government … in simple terms, the President must, for the most part, do what he or she is told.”

That said, Gail McElroy, a professor of political science at Trinity College Dublin, told Sky News that McGregor has almost no shot of actually getting elected.

“Close to zero [chance],” McElroy said about McGregor actually becoming the President of Ireland. “There’s two hurdles. First, you have to get nominated and then you have to win a majority of the vote. Both of those hurdles are almost insurmountable [for McGregor].”

There are several obstacles that must be cleared in order for a candidate to even get put on the ballot to run for the election and McElroy says rather simply that McGregor just doesn’t have that kind of support.

According to Sky News, to get elected as the President of Ireland:

Candidates - no matter if they are an independent or affiliated with a party - must be nominated in one of two ways.The first is to get the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas - representatives in Ireland’s lower and upper houses of parliament. The second way is to be nominated by four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities, ie county or city councils.

“Conor McGregor is toxic in Ireland,” McElroy said. “I think it’s almost inconceivable that four county councils would endorse him.”

Of course this past November, McGregor was found liable of sexual assault by a jury in a civil trial in Ireland following allegations first made against the former UFC champion back in 2018. McGregor has since filed an appeal.

Following that verdict, numerous companies and businesses cut ties with McGregor including the whiskey brand that he started before selling a majority share of the ownership in 2021.

All told, McGregor would likely face an uphill battle to get nominated much less elected but he seems determined to make a push to become the next President of Ireland.