Nigel Farage denies ‘heated row’ with Conor McGregor at Trump inauguration

Nigel Farage has denied getting into a heated row with Conor McGregor at Donald Trump’s inauguration yesterday.

The UFC fighter, who was last year found by a civil jury to have sexually assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel in 2018, was all smiles when posing for a photo with the Reform UK leader for Instagram.

But other pictures taken at the same event, a rally to celebrate the returning President’s inauguration, appeared to show them exchanging words in a more heated manner.

In the two pictures, McGregor has his hand on Farage’s arm – and Farage’s expression is one of surprise and apparent anger.

Billionaire Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy is also seen in the pictures.

Mr Farage’s spokesman declined to reveal what was said between the two men in a “private conversation”.

But he said the suggestion that they had a “heated exchange” was “nonsense.”

McGregor was pictured with Nigel Farage after jetting into Washington DC. Farage uploaded a photo of the pair together, writing: “We are so back. @thenotoriousmma.” McGregor responded to it by writing: “Let’s go!”

Former two-weight UFC champion McGregor jetted out to America from Dublin Airport on Saturday with his long-time coach John Kavanagh. Sharing a photo on X after landing in the American capital, McGregor wrote: “Just landed in Washington DC to witness @realDonaldTrump become Double Champ!”

In November McGregor was found liable for assaulting a woman who accused him of rape in a Dublin hotel six years ago – with a jury awarding her £200,000 in damages.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said: “I’m disgusted to see Nigel Farage proudly posing with a man who just months ago was found to have sexually assaulted a woman – but I have to say, I’m not particularly surprised.

She added: “Farage has previously praised the misogynist influencer and alleged child trafficker Andrew Tate, and has called for a debate on rolling back abortion rights.

“The rising unholy alliance of far-right and misogynist figures in the UK and abroad should worry all of us who care about women’s rights. We can’t be complacent about the hard-won rights and freedoms we have, and politicians here in the UK have a responsibility to speak out against those who would seek to take them away.”