元ＵＦＣ王者マクレガーがトランプ氏と面会　不法移民を激しく非難

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】総合格闘技団体「ＵＦＣ」の元王者コナー・マクレガー（３６）が１７日、米ホワイトハウスでドナルド・トランプ大統領と面会し、母国アイルランドにおける不法移民問題を激しく非難した。（写真は、米ホワイトハウスのキャロライン・レビット報道官〈右〉と会見する総合格闘家のコナー・マクレガー）
　聖パトリック・デーに合わせて緑色のスーツに身を包んだマクレガーは、キャロライン・レビット報道官とともに会見室に登場し、「アイルランドはアイルランドらしさを失う瀬戸際にある」「不法移民の取り引きが国を荒廃させている」と主張した。
　トランプ氏はこの後、マクレガーを大統領執務室に招待。マクレガーはデスクに座ったトランプ氏の肩を抱えて写真を撮ったり、トランプ氏のアドバイザーを務めるイーロン・マスク氏ともカメラに収まったりしていた。
　米電気自動車（ＥＶ）大手テスラを率いるマスク氏は以前、マクレガーがアイルランドの大統領選出馬を示唆した際に支援を表明し、最近では自身も反移民を訴える欧州の政党を支持する発言をしている。
　大統領補佐官が投稿した動画では、マクレガーがトランプ氏に「あなたの仕事に対する姿勢は刺激になる」と語りかけ、トランプ氏は「君もだ。君は素晴らしい」と返していた。
　マクレガーは以前、トランプ氏の移民政策に「耳を傾ける」と発言していた。トランプ氏は移民問題を主要政策の一つに掲げ、不法移民の強制送還を進めている。
　この日のマクレガーのコメントについては、アイルランドのミホル・マーティン首相が即座に反発し、「コナー・マクレガーの発言は間違っており、聖パトリック・デーの精神やアイルランドの人々の意見を反映していない」とＸ（旧ツイッター）に投稿した。
　総合格闘技（ＭＭＡ）は、特にトランプ氏が２０２４年の大統領選で男性有権者にファンが多いＵＦＣのスターやプロモーターらとキャンペーンを行ったことで人気が高まっている。中でもマクレガーはＭＭＡで最も人気のあるＵＦＣで屈指のスター選手となっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/03/18-17:13）

Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, who has been found liable of sexual assault, met Donald Trump during a Saint Patrick's Day visit on Monday during which he lashed out at illegal immigration in Ireland.
Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness, said McGregor during an appearance in the White House briefing room alongside the president's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country, added the fighter, wearing a green business suit to mark Saint Patrick's Day, the centuries-old celebration of his homeland.
Trump later hosted the 36-year-old former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star -- whom he said last week was his favorite Irishman -- in the Oval Office.
McGregor posed for a picture with his arm around Trump's shoulder as the president sat at his desk, and for another with tech tycoon and powerful Trump advisor Elon Musk.
Tesla billionaire Musk previously backed McGregor when he spoke in the past about a possible presidential bid in Ireland. Musk has recently spoken out in support of a number of anti-immigration parties in Europe.
Your work ethic is inspiring, McGregor told Trump, according to footage posted by an aide to the US president.
Yours is too, you're fantastic, replied Trump.
Mc Gregor had earlier said he would be listening to Trump on immigration -- one of the US president's main focus areas as he seeks to ramp up deportations of people without proper documentation.
We couldn't think of a better guest to have with us on Saint Patrick's Day, Leavitt said.
McGregor's comments earned swift pushback from Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who met with Trump last week in the White House and received a dressing down over trade.
Conor McGregor's remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, or the views of the people of Ireland, the premier posted on X.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a sport that combines various combat techniques, and can be extremely violent.
It has been gaining popularity, particularly as Trump campaigned in 2024 with stars and promoters of the UFC series that is popular with many male voters.
Nicknamed The Notorious, McGregor is one of the biggest stars in UFC, the most famous and lucrative MMA league. He is known for his aggressive, provocative temperament -- and noted for occasional anti-immigration outbursts.
In November 2024 the fighter was ordered by an Irish court to pay damages to a woman who claimed that McGregor brutally raped and battered her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018. McGregor claimed they had consensual sex.
More recently, the Irishman was sued in a US court in January, accused of sexual assault at an NBA game in Miami in 2023.
Trump was meanwhile ordered by a New York jury in a civil trial in 2023 to pay $5 million for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.
Trump denied the allegations and appealed the verdict, which was upheld in December 2024.