“I’m not behind some counter somewhere or at a desk gaming stuff, I don’t have time for that at the moment,” Mr Martin said. Mr Martin is expected to continue pressing for de-escalation and a diplomatic route to peace in the region. The disgraced former MMA fighter was praised as “great” by Mr Trump during a visit to the White House last year. McGregor used his appearance in the White House press briefing room to slam the Government, claiming it had abandoned “the voices of the people of Ireland”. It is likely Mr Martin will draw on Mr Trump’s Irish links through his hotel and golf resort at Doonbeg.

Source: Irish Examiner March 17, 2026 06:56 UTC