When Conor McGregor said: “I Don’t Give a f**k About Donald Trump. He Can Shut His Big Fat Mouth.”
In November 2015, Conor McGregor delivered a blunt message to Donald Trump that would become one of the most memorable political quotes in combat sports history. Standing outside Los Angeles International Airport after arriving from Ireland, the UFC featherweight champion told reporters that Trump could “shut his big fat mouth” and declared he didn’t “give a f**k about Donald Trump”. Nine years later, their relationship has transformed dramatically, culminating in high-profile White House visits and business partnerships.
Conor McGregor: “I Don’t Give a f**k About Donald Trump. He Can Shut His Big Fat Mouth.”
The heated exchange originated from Trump’s reaction to Ronda Rousey’s shocking defeat at UFC 193 on November 14, 2015, when Holly Holm knocked out the previously undefeated bantamweight champion with a second-round head kick. The day after the fight, Trump posted a celebratory tweet stating: “Glad to see @RondaRousey lost her championship fight last night. Was soundly beaten – not a nice person!”
Trump’s criticism appeared to stem from Rousey’s earlier political comments. In a CNN interview, she had expressed distrust of Trump’s presidential candidacy, stating: “I mean, I wouldn’t vote for him. I just really wouldn’t trust the guy with running my country, that’s all. I’m not really going to get into specifics of it, but, I mean, I don’t want a reality TV star to be running my country.”
When TMZ reporters caught up with McGregor at LAX on November 23, 2015, they asked him about both Rousey’s defeat and Trump’s comments. McGregor first offered diplomatic remarks about the fight itself: “It was a very tough fight. Holly fought a great fight. And much respect. This is the fight business, these things happen. So Ronda will be back. True champions come back. And congratulations to Holly, the new champion.”
However, when informed about Trump’s criticism of Rousey, McGregor’s tone shifted dramatically. “Why is that Donald Trump talking trash? I didn’t know Donald Trump was talking trash,” he said, appearing genuinely surprised. The fighter then defended Rousey by criticizing those who comment from the sidelines: “It’s easy for someone that’s not in there to comment, but it’s different when you’re in there. The emotions are high… so it is what it is.”
McGregor’s most quoted moment came when he addressed the fist-bump controversy that Trump had referenced. “You want to touch gloves, then don’t. That means nothing. Donald can shut his big fat mouth. I don’t give a f**k about Donald Trump”.
The 2016 Shift
McGregor’s stance began evolving even before Trump took office. Following Trump’s unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in November 2016, McGregor struck a notably different tone. Speaking to CNN ahead of UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden, the Irish fighter said: “I’m not from around here, but maybe Trump won’t be so bad as everyone thinks.”
McGregor compared the election to a fight: “I don’t really feel much difference – it’s like a fight. One man wins, one man loses, and life goes on… I wish him well, and we’ll see what he does.” He also noted similarities between political debates and his own verbal sparring, though he claimed to remain largely disinterested in the political divisions surrounding Trump.
The 2020 Endorsement
The relationship reached a new level in January 2020 when McGregor publicly praised Trump on Twitter. Responding to Trump’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day tweet about his presidential accomplishments, McGregor wrote: “Phenomenal President. Quite possibly the USA GOAT. Most certainly one of them anyway, as he sits atop the shoulders of many amazing giants that came before him. No easy feat. Early stages of term also. Incredible. Congrats and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day America”.
Trump reciprocated the praise, congratulating McGregor on his UFC 246 victory over Donald Cerrone with a tweet: “Congratulations on your big @UFC WIN!”. This exchange marked the beginning of their public mutual admiration society.
Recent Developments and Political Alignment
The relationship has intensified significantly during Trump’s second presidency. McGregor attended Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and made a controversial White House visit on St. Patrick’s Day 2025, where he met with Trump and senior administration officials.
During the White House visit, McGregor used the press briefing room podium to criticize Irish immigration policies, declaring that “Ireland is on the cusp of losing its Irishness” due to an “illegal immigration racket.” His comments drew sharp criticism from Irish political leaders, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin stating that McGregor’s remarks “are outrageous and do not reflect the positive diversity of modern Ireland”.
Business Partnerships and Future Plans
In September 2025, McGregor announced a business partnership with Donald Trump Jr., bringing him aboard as a strategic advisor to MMA.Inc. McGregor described the collaboration as creating “a truly iconic team” and emphasized how “Ireland and America’s deeply rooted relations will be stronger than ever”.
The partnership aligns with McGregor’s planned return to the UFC at a historic White House event scheduled for July 2026. Dana White confirmed that McGregor has re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program and expressed confidence in the Irish fighter’s commitment to the event.
Analysis of the Transformation
The evolution from “shut his big fat mouth” to “phenomenal president” reflects both political and personal changes. Conor McGregor’s initial criticism stemmed from defending a fellow fighter against what he saw as unfair outside commentary. His later support appears rooted in shared views on nationalism and immigration.
