Conor McGregor Suddenly and Unexpectedly Withdraws For Presidential Race

Professional mixed martial artist Conor McGregor has withdrawn his candidacy from Ireland’s presidential race.

“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 I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here,” he continued.

Muintir na hÉireann, a chairde Ghaeil,

I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann.

I am a very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country.

I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage…

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 15, 2025

Full text:

Muintir na hÉireann, a chairde Ghaeil,

I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann.

I am a very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country.

I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage and placed us rightly at the top table.

I have been truly humbled by the support and encouragement I have received canvassing the length and breadth of our great Island meeting and speaking with the ‘forgotten Irish’ who feel abandoned and ignored by Establishment woke politics.

I travelled to New York last Wednesday, a home to many Irish who followed their dreams in pursuit of happiness, to rightfully commemorate the tragic terror attacks of 9/11 and discuss my aspirations for Ireland with the US Administration. I remain in America and will attend to imminent unforeseen meetings that will translate to Irish jobs.

Ireland has drastically changed in recent years, however, is constraint by the straitjacket of an outdated Constitution that is selectively upheld by the main Oireachtas parties, and exploited to prevent a true democratic Presidential election being contested, but rather fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot.

This democratic deficit against the will of the Irish people has now been successfully magnified by my expression of interest.

In a very short period, I have catalysed a mobilisation for positive change in Ireland against a malevolent political witch-hunt working together with the mainstream media supercharged Fake News.

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There is now a very visible and vocal movement of Irish Patriots reverting to our cultural and historical origins seeking to maintain and protect our way of life as Irish – to them I salute you.

The current has changed and this tide cannot be held back!

Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race.

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.

The tide of change has begun, and it cannot be turned back.

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My first venture into politics, and although I have chosen to withdraw this round, meaningful progress has been made.

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!

Ar aghaidh linn le Chéile!

Is mise le dhea mheas, i gcónaí agus go deo,

Conchúir Mac Gréagóir

“Citizens of Ireland, the time for real change is now! As President, I will not sign any bill in law until it goes back to the people first! If you want to see my name on the ballot for the Presidency, I urge you to contact your local county councillors today and ask them to nominate me,” McGregor said earlier this month.

Citizens of Ireland, the time for real change is now!

As President, I will not sign any bill in law until it goes back to the people first!

If you want to see my name on the ballot for the Presidency, I urge you to contact your local county councillors today and ask them to… pic.twitter.com/LGDCSGN9vr

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 4, 2025

More from The Guardian:

The Irish presidency is a largely symbolic, seven-year post but McGregor had vowed to curb immigration in order to shore up “Irish culture” and to give power “back to the people”.

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He had hoped to leverage his social media following – which includes 10.7 million followers on X – and the backing of Elon Musk and tacit support of Donald Trump to get on the ballot for the election on 24 October. Tucker Carlson and other far-right US commentators had also backed the former athlete.

McGregor had faced an uphill battle to get on the ballot – a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of parliament or four local authorities – and said the process was “fixed” in favour of establishment candidates.

He had been due to address several councils this week, along with other independent hopefuls, but analysts said the chances of winning any endorsements were slender.

New: Conor McGregor has withdrawn his candidacy for President of Ireland

The reason why he withdrew is because he failed to meet the threshold of support from at least 20 members of parliament or four local authority heads pic.twitter.com/CJV9Jvam6V

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) September 15, 2025

“Conor McGregor for President to save Ireland,” Elon Musk said last week.

Shame on Simon Harris for tyrannically blocking the will of the people of Ireland!

Conor McGregor for President to save Ireland. https://t.co/d7SXjFgAxv

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 8, 2025

BBC noted:

Ireland will head to the polls on 24 October, with three candidates so far having secured the backing needed from Irish lawmakers or local authorities to stand in the race.

Presidential hopefuls must be an Irish citizen aged 35 or older, and require the endorsement of at least 20 members of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, or four out of Ireland’s 31 local authorities.

McGregor, a former champion fighter who has not competed professionally since July 2021, said: “This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.”

The 37-year-old, who first vowed to run for the presidency last year, said he was “truly humbled” by the “support and encouragement” he received.

He said the election’s eligibility rules were a “straitjacket” that prevented “a true democratic presidential election being contested”.

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For months, McGregor had been sharing posts with his millions of followers on social media about his ambition to be president of Ireland.

He posted a video asking people to lobby councillors to nominate him to run but did not put himself forward to speak at the first councils to hear presentations from would-be candidates, which led commentators to question how serious he really was about fully entering the race.