The dust from Conor McGregor’s political gamble hasn’t even settled, yet his next move may already be in motion. Just two days after pulling out of Ireland’s presidential race, the UFC’s biggest star is once again being linked to the Octagon. The twist? The Irishman might be gunning for a return on President Donald Trump’s ambitious vision for the UFC in 2026. So, where does ‘The Notorious’ fit into the mix now that politics is temporarily behind him?

Appearing on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, UFC boss Dana White didn’t hesitate when asked about McGregor’s comeback. According to him, “So, Conor says he’s coming back, he’s in the pool, he’s doing his thing, he has all kinds of footage of him training, he wants to fight on this White House card, we’ll see. Umm, we won’t start building that card till February.”

The “White House card” is set for 2026 in Washington, D.C. White has already admitted the security challenges are immense, as in a recent interview with ‘The Herd’, he confessed, “Security is going to be a massive issue, because at the end of the day, the Secret Service’s job is to protect the president, and I don’t know how it’s going to work out as far as having people there live on the lawn of the White House”

Fewer than 5,000 fans are expected on-site. Instead, the UFC plans to set up nearby parks for more, with concerts and big screens transforming the city into one giant festival. Conor McGregor’s name, naturally, would bring fireworks. After all, few fighters know how to make history like him. But is he really ready?

After all, only a week ago, McGregor was attempting the impossible, securing a spot on Ireland’s presidential ballot. The bid collapsed when he failed to gain the required political endorsements. In a statement just days ago on X, McGregor framed his withdrawal as temporary, as he wrote, “I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election. You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation.”

This is where things get interesting. White himself admitted during his appearance on Impaulsive, “…polling is saying he’s gonna win by a landslide. The polling’s saying he’s gonna crush the election, so they’re doing everything they can to try and keep him off the ballot.”

The remarks stand in stark contrast to reports from a recent Sunday Independent poll in Ireland, which showed just 7% of respondents would have voted for him. Combined with his past legal troubles, his campaign seemingly faced long odds from the start. Either way, the Irishman’s fallback plan looks far more familiar: gloves, cage, and spotlight. While Jon Jones has already been ruled a long shot for the White House card by the boss himself, McGregor seems determined to push his name back into the UFC conversation!

“Ecstatic” Conor McGregor confirms his intentions to return at the White House card

Four years have slipped by since his last walk to the Octagon, yet the Irishman is making it clear that he sees the White House card as his grand return. Speaking to TMZ, Conor McGregor recently stated, “I’m ecstatic! The Mac is back and what better event than to grace the White House lawn for a straightener. What I do best. I’m very, very excited. Very eager. Very motivated. Bring it on, baby.”

As mentioned by Dana White, he has taken steps to prove this isn’t just talk. McGregor has officially re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program, a move that locks him into at least six months of testing before competition. It’s the clearest signal yet that his ambitions stretch beyond soundbites.

‘The Notorious’ continued, “I’m very happy that it’s June, It was on in July, now it’s a month earlier. Even better! Bring it to April, why not? Let’s celebrate the birthday early. I celebrate my birthday months in advance. That’s a definitely [I’m fighting at the White House]. For sure. That’s my event. That’s my event for sure.”

The UFC boss has repeatedly hinted that McGregor’s return feels more real this time, though he has stressed no fights will be booked until February 2026, as mentioned above. Still, a White House card without McGregor feels unimaginable, especially with the former two-division champion adamant that the event is his stage.

Conor McGregor’s political experiment may have fizzled for the time being, but his hunger for the spotlight clearly hasn’t. Dana White’s words and McGregor’s own proclamations paint the picture of a fighter who sees Washington, D.C., not Dublin, as his next battlefield. The stage may be historic, the hurdles immense, but ‘The Notorious’ thrives on turning the impossible into spectacle!