Conor McGregor has made headlines with his latest comments about comedian Rosie O’Donnell. The UFC star, who’s planning to run for president of Ireland in 2025, said he would consider deporting O’Donnell if he wins the election. McGregor shared his thoughts during an interview with Tucker Carlson in Dublin on April 18, 2025, responding to O’Donnell’s recent criticism of him while also showing a softer side.
McGregor’s comments come after O’Donnell moved to Dublin with her 12-year-old daughter Dakota on January 15, 2025, following Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president. She had promised to leave the U.S. if Trump won the 2024 election, and she kept her word. However, her Irish citizenship hasn’t been approved, putting her status in question. O’Donnell stirred tension by calling McGregor’s St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House in March 2025 “very depressing” on RTÉ’s Late Late Show, a comment that didn’t sit well with the fighter.
McGregor Questions O’Donnell’s Fit in Irish Society
When asked if he would deport O’Donnell as president, McGregor laid out his criteria for anyone wanting to stay in Ireland.
“What is her criminal history? Has she got a criminal background? How did she enter the country? Did she enter the country illegally? Has she assimilated with our community? Does she hold our beliefs? Is she an upstanding member of our community? Or would she be?” McGregor said. He added, “If she is not, well then she’s got to go. You ain’t got to go home, you got to get the hell out of here.”
Despite his tough stance, McGregor showed empathy for O’Donnell, acknowledging her struggles.
“But I don’t know Rosie O’Donnell from Adam. But, you know, I believe she’s a comedian. I’ve seen her on our national TV. She spoke a bit of ill of me. I don’t know Rosie. She seems unhappy,” McGregor said. He continued, “She seems to be going through something at the moment, and I’m not the type of person to kick a person when they’re down. I wish for her, I believe she’s a comedian, that’s what her craft is, I wish for her to find her happiness again. And that is it.”
McGregor’s remarks highlight his strong views on immigration, a key part of his political platform, while also showing a compassionate side. As he pushes forward with his presidential campaign, his comments could shape how people see him in Ireland and beyond. O’Donnell’s future in Ireland remains uncertain as she awaits citizenship approval, all while dealing with her long-standing feud with Trump.
