Conor McGregor confirms support for Donald Trump as he jets to US for inauguration

Conor McGregor has said that he is in Washington to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The former UFC champion was invited to the inauguration on behalf of a group of Gold Star families, which are families of US soldiers killed in combat — with him sharing a photo alongside the families on Sunday.

Taking to his Twitter (X) on Sunday night, McGregor wrote "Honour to be in Washington, D.C., to support @realDonaldTrump, the newly elected leader of the free world, and to stand with the 13 families who lost their loved ones at Abbey Gate."

McGregor endorsed Mr. Trump and shared his support after he survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania, writing at the time "A 78-year-old multiple billionaire he should be on a yacht on the med touring golf courses. But he is not. He is in Pennsylvania spitting out bullets! Running for the love of his country! God speed Donald! God bless the United States!"

Conor McGregor outside the High Court in Dublin in Nov 2024.

McGregor’s support for Donald Trump comes after a High Court judge ordered that he return CCTV footage surrounding his civil rape case at a hearing earlier this week.

McGregor was found liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in 2018, with Ms Hand filing an injunction to prevent McGregor from disseminating CCTV footage relating to the case.

Judge Alexander Owens said that there was a "demonstrable risk" and "danger" that the footage would be posted online, ordering McGregor to return or delete all copies that he has. The injunction was filed after Ms Hand’s legal team became alarmed that a business associate of McGregor suggested that the footage would be shared later this month.

Her barrister, Ray Boland, said yesterday morning that it was clear McGregor intended to publish the CCTV "with a view to undermining and discrediting the verdict of the jury".

He was also critical of posts on social media made by McGregor in the wake of the verdict, calling Ms Hand a "liar" and referring to a "kangaroo court".

"Mr McGregor is seeking to relitigate in the court of public opinion, using or abusing all his considerable number of social media followers," Mr Boland said.

McGregor was ordered to pay €100,000 of the near €250,000 he was ordered to pay Ms Hand in damages during Thursday’s hearing, as well as €200,000 of the €1.3million in legal fees.

 The court also heard that McGregor plans on appealing the verdict.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.