Conor McGregor shared a screenshot of a FaceTime call with Elon Musk as he presses to secure the nominations needed to appear on Ireland’s presidential ballot, a move observers say highlights the former fighter’s precarious position ahead of the nomination deadline later this month.
Under Irish election law, a presidential candidate must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, the national parliament, or by four separate local authorities. McGregor, 37, meets the age requirement but has repeatedly urged supporters to contact county councillors to obtain the necessary backing, suggesting he has not yet reached the threshold.
McGregor posted the image of the private video call on social media with the caption, “This is Superman level, folks.” The post followed public support from Musk, who wrote on X that "No one will fight harder for the people of Ireland than Conor McGregor!" Musk held a short stint in a U.S. government role under former President Donald Trump earlier this year that lasted 130 days.
McGregor announced his intention to run in an online video posted Sept. 4, in which he reiterated hardline positions on immigration and criticized the current political leadership. In that footage he urged citizens to contact their local councillors to secure nominations, saying councillors "are the backbone of our communities" and urging them to back his candidacy.
Campaign aides did not respond to requests for comment on how many nominations McGregor has secured. Election officials have not commented on the status of any candidate’s nominations ahead of the formal registration deadline.
The bid comes after a series of legal setbacks for McGregor. Ireland’s Court of Appeal on July 31 dismissed his challenge to a civil ruling that found him liable for sexually assaulting a woman in 2018. A jury in November 2024 had found him liable and ordered him to pay €248,000 in damages. The accuser, Nikita Hand, has since filed further legal action claiming malicious abuse of court processes and seeking damages from McGregor and two others.
McGregor is not affiliated with any political party and has no prior elected office experience. The presidency in Ireland is a seven-year term that is largely ceremonial: the president does not initiate legislation or hold referendum powers independently and has limited executive authority.
Public reaction among politicians has been largely hostile. A poll of 134 politicians reported unanimous rejection of his candidacy, and some lawmakers publicly criticized his record and rhetoric. Observers said the combination of legal controversies and a lack of institutional support make McGregor’s path to the ballot and beyond uncertain.
McGregor’s social media outreach has been a central feature of his effort to mobilize support. His campaign is racing a statutory timetable for nominations ahead of the election notice later this month, and it remains unclear whether he will secure the endorsements required to appear on the ballot.