Donald Trump facing huge backlash for controversial comment about UFC fighter Conor McGregor

Donald Trump is facing backlash over a controversial comment he made about UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

Trump was speaking in the White House alongside Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, with several reporters present.

During the bilateral meeting between the two world leaders, Trump took the opportunity to praise McGregor - who was born Dublin - for his 'toughness' and fighting skills.

When asked to name his favourite Irishman, he said: "I do happen to like your fighter. He's got the best tattoos I've ever seen.

"Conor's great... Ireland's always had a lot of good fighters. You know why, because they're tough people."

Trump's comments have received criticism from some sections.

Last year, McGregor was found liable of assaulting Nikita Hand by a civil court jury.

He was ordered to pay Hand more than €248,000 in damages. McGregor - who denied all the allegations made against him - later confirmed in a since-deleted Twitter post that he would be appealing the decision.

Hand, from Dublin, had accused the UFC fighter of raping her at a hotel in the Irish capital after a Christmas night out back in December 2018.

McGregor told the court that they had consensual sex in a penthouse at a hotel in the south of Dublin.

A civil jury was told that Hand was left with extensive injuries, including bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck.

In a separate case, a woman - who works on Wall Street - has accused McGregor of sexual assault at an NBA Finals game between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets in June 2023.

The lawsuit, which was filed in January of this year, follows an incident report that was filed with Miami's police department in June 2023, under 48 hours after the alleged assault. The Florida State Attorney's Office subsequently decided not to go forward with charges in October of that year.

In response to the latest lawsuit, McGregor's attorney told ESPN: "After a thorough investigation at the time, the State's Attorney concluded that there was no case to pursue.

"Almost two years and at least three lawyers later the plaintiff has a new false story. We are confident that this case too will be dismissed."

The woman's attorney said: "My client has thought long and hard about the decision to pursue this civil case, and is fearful of the effect it may have on her job on Wall Street.

"Nonetheless, her main goal in filing this suit is to raise awareness and encourage others to report sexual assault."

Reacting to Trump's comments, one person wrote: "Widely unpopular in Ireland from what I gathered my last visit there! Conor as well!"

Another said: "I feel like this might be the only Irish person he knows."

A third added: "Not even Ireland likes Conor McGregor."

A fourth claimed: "He's totally clueless with any answers because he's chosen the first person he's seen and remembered who is Irish."