Conor McGregor had closely aligned himself with US president Donald Trump but the bromance is apparently over after the Irishman lashed out at the 78-year-old’s tariffs announcement
Conor McGregor has lashed out at US president Donald Trump as the row over tariffs escalates, with their bromance seemingly on the rocks already. Trump has slapped tariffs on a raft of countries, with a 20 per cent charge on those in the European Union and a 10 per cent levy on the UK. The president claims it is a ‘declaration of economic independence’.
But the move has been widely slammed by his fellow world leaders, while the US stock market has slumped alarmingly in the aftermath of the announcement. UFC fighter McGregor had previously aligned himself with Trump in a visit to the White House last month.
The Irishman, who has not fought in the Octagon since being defeated by Dustin Poirier four years ago, was invited to the meet Trump and several members of the administration to mark St. Patrick’s Day. But he has now rounded on the 78-year-old president over the tariffs – as well as calling for Irealnd to now leave the European Union.
“To be charged double the United Kingdom is an abomination!’ McGregor posted on Twitter. “If this is fully reciprocal, what on earth are we charging our brothers in the US 20 per cent for at the order of the EU.
“Although we are in the EU, Ireland must administer exemption to our siblings in the United States separate to the EU, and the favor then returned.
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“Ireland will separate here and we will charge 10 per cent on Irish goods to the US and the US will charge 10 per cent to us also. Fair play. Otherwise, and maybe the caveat in all of this, we should no longer be in the EU.”
Trump made the announcement on what he claimed was a ‘Liberation Day’. But experts believe a wave of price rises will hit American consumers first, with Brits later facing similar increases.
McGregor meanwhile has been attempting to push forward a laughable bid for the Irish presidency, with an election scheduled before the end of the year. The Irish presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution, with executive powers instead invested in the Taoiseach.
Candidates must garner the support of 20 Oireachtas (parliament) members, or the backing of four of Ireland’s local authorities in order to stand. McGregor appears to have little chance of securing support from any of the 234 Oireachtas members.
Many have publicly stated that McGregor is unsuited to the role. Garret Ahearn, Fine Gael senator, told Sky News: “I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position.”
Cathal Crowe, a Fianna Fail TD added: “There isn’t a snowball’s chance… he made a show of himself in Washington DC last week and with no elected mandate he certainly does not ‘speak for Irish people’ when he travels overseas.”
