That’s one way to dampen festivities.

Conor McGregor, an MMA star found liable of sexual assault last year, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day yesterday. During their meeting in the Oval Office, which was also attended by Elon Musk, Trump showed McGregor a map renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” and the two exchanged praise. In one interaction, McGregor said “I’ll tell you what your work ethic is inspiring. Your work rate is inspiring”, and Trump praised McGregor back, saying, “Yours is too. You are fantastic”.

The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt said the administration could not think of a “better guest to have with us on St Patrick’s Day”.

However, perhaps most controversial were McGregor’s comments at the press briefing that followed, where he signed a “Make Ireland Great Again” hat. In the press briefing, he claimed that he “to raise the issues of the people of Ireland” – despite being entirely unelected and a highly controversial figure at home. McGregor criticised the Irish government on immigration policies, claiming it had “abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland.” He said that it was “high time that America be made aware” of, what he described as, a “travesty” happening in Ireland, citing immigration as his main grievance.

“I’m here to raise the issues the people of Ireland face. It will be music to the people of Ireland’s ears.”

McGregor remains a controversial figure in both sports and politics. Last November, a jury found him liable in a civil rape case brought by Nikita Hand, ruling that he sexually assaulted her in a Dublin hotel. His appeal is scheduled for a court hearing on March 21. For all survivors of sexual violence, McGregor’s White House invitation was a painful reminder of the challenges and courage required, even after coming forward and winning a case.

His comments were rejected by Irish political leaders, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, who emphasised that McGregor does not represent Ireland. “President Trump can invite whoever he wants to his home, and he’s perfectly entitled to do whatever he wishes in relation to who he decides to invite to the White House. But let me be very clear, Conor McGregor is not here in the United States representing Ireland or the people of Ireland, he’s here in a personal capacity, he doesn’t speak for Ireland, he doesn’t speak for the people of Ireland. He has no mandate to do such.”

For political establishment and much of the population in Ireland, the news of McGregor’s invite to the Whitehouse was enough to put a dampener on the day of festivities – especially just days after the official state visit. However, for those who champion Conor McGregor as an alternative voice and mouthpiece for the far-right, this was hailed as a victory for their cause.

The White House shared a video of McGregor leaving the meeting, saying, “Happy Paddy’s Day, America.”

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