Conor McGregor Withdraws From Irish Presidential Race

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has officially ended his bid to become the next president of Ireland.

In a statement released Sunday night on social media, McGregor announced he is withdrawing from the race ahead of the October election. The two-division UFC titleholder, who used his massive online following to promote his campaign, had been considered a long shot by most political analysts.

“Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” McGregor wrote. “This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.”

While McGregor is stepping away from the upcoming election, he emphasized that his political ambitions remain intact.

“My first venture into politics, and although I have chosen to withdraw this round, meaningful progress has been made,” he said. “I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election.”

McGregor first hinted at a potential run for the Irish presidency following a visit to the White House during a St. Patrick’s Day event, where he spent time with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Though the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, McGregor stated his goal was to raise awareness about national issues, including immigration policy and government transparency.

His campaign faced structural hurdles from the outset. Under Irish law, a presidential candidate must receive backing from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (Parliament) or be nominated by four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities — a challenge McGregor had yet to overcome.

Despite stepping back, McGregor says he remains committed to representing Ireland on the global stage and intends to remain active in both political and economic discussions.

“This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey,” he wrote. “I will continue to serve my people on the global stage lobbying for Ireland’s best interests socially and economically — of that there is no doubt. This is a marathon. Not a sprint.”

In addition to politics, McGregor has recently turned his attention back to MMA. He has announced plans to return to fighting at a proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026. McGregor hasn’t competed since suffering a leg injury in a bout against Dustin Poirier in 2021, but has since re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program, signaling a potential comeback.