MMA fighter Conor McGregor is in Washington DC to hold an "important meeting" with US President Donald Trump.
In a series of messages shared on his social media page on Sunday evening, McGregor expressed his intention to run for the Irish presidency this year as he urged the public to vote for him and 'help me save our country'.
"Our systems need full change! To vote for anyone else in our upcoming Presidential election to make this happen other than me will be the ruination of Ireland, " he wrote in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
"I am of no political party or affiliation. Any other candidate they may propose here in the upcoming race will be a tee up for zero resistance. Ireland, I urge you, I plead! Help me save our country. Otherwise it is gone forever.
"I am a real Irish person of no corrupted political affiliation. I am a father, a champion fighter, an employer of multiple 100s of Irish people, as well as worldwide. I have the needs of the people of Ireland in my heart! Vote McGregor!"
The UFC star told his followers that he was set to hold a meeting with US President Trump in the White House on St Patrick's Day, adding: "President @realDonaldTrump I depart for Washington today with my family, I look very forward to our meeting tomorrow on St Patrick's Day at the Oval Office."
On Monday, McGregor shared a video of his family on board a private jet, before he posted a message confirming that he was heading to the White House 'for the most important meeting of my countries (sic) future".
"I land shortly in Washington for the most important meeting of my countries future," he said.
"I am beyond ready. THE WORLD WILL HEARS IRELANDS CALL."
Later he was spotted in the White House where he was introduced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who said he is set to meet Mr Trump and other administration officials.
The fighter said he is in Washington "to raise the issues the people of Ireland face".
He accused the Irish Government of "abandoning the voices of the people of Ireland" saying it's "high time that America be made aware" of, what he called, a "travesty" happening in Ireland.
McGregor has been vocal in his support of Trump, with the US president recently naming the former MMA fighter as his favourite Irish person in the world.
During his meeting with Taoiseach Michael Martin at the Oval Office last week, Trump was asked who his favourite Irish person was and singled out McGregor for praise.
The US President and Taoiseach were taking questions from the press when Trump quickly responded by saying there were so many - then referred to 'the fighter'.
"He's got the best tattoos I've ever seen," he said referring to McGregor. Conor's great, right. But you have a lot of great Irish fighters actually, great fighters."
McGregor endorsed Trump for President last year and sent him well wishes after the 78-year-old survived an assassination attempt whilst rallying for the Presidential Election in Pittsburgh last July.
The MMA fighter jetted off to Washington in January to attend Trump's pre-inauguration rally, where he was pictured with Nigel Farage.
A jury in a civil trial last year found Mr McGregor raped Nikita Hand in a hotel in Dublin in December 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages.
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