Michael Flatley says he was invited to perform at the White House

Michael Flatley has said the Trump administration has asked him to perform at the White House next year.

"We've just been asked by the White House to put something together for the 250th anniversary of America for next year, I'm looking at that," he said in an interview with Hot Press.

"There's a few things that I will look at. Will it be political? Is it up to an artist to be political?"

When asked if he had officially accepted the Trump administration's invitation, he said, "I am not at liberty to discuss that."

Recently, Conor McGregor — who also briefly ran for president of Ireland before dropping out earlier this month — suggested to American conservative media broadcaster Fox News he would take part in the UFC fight at the White House planned to mark US Independence Day in 2026.

Flately also spoke to Hot Press about the relationship between politics and dance, and his campaign for the Irish presidency.

In 2003, Flatley performed his anti-war piece Warlord to an audience of national leaders in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2022, he spoke out about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and donated proceeds from Lord of the Dance to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

Hot Press asked if there would be any similar political or social commentary with upcoming shows, to which he immediately said, "No."

"I mean, is there an undertone? Possibly," Flatley said.

"In Lord of the Dance, there's the good girl versus the temptress, the evil lord versus the lord of the dance, having to overcome incredible odds and obstacles to go on to seek victory at the end. Is there a message on that that you might see?"

"Politics and art don't necessarily mix," Flatley then said.

"I've spent my life trying to stay away from politics. If I wanted to be a politician, I should have got into politics.
I'm an artist, my job is to promote Ireland and Irish culture globally, the people I love, the country I love. My family for hundreds years are Irish. My job is to try and represent them in a positive light and make Ireland proud."

Flatley opened up about his short presidential run, which he said was inspired by an interview on The Brendan O'Connor Show.

"I was in [O'Connor's] studio and he's reading his computer as he does, and things were coming up that were saying nice things about me, which was very flattering," Flatley said.

"So he started teasing me and asking me if I would run for president. He had me on subsequently, but between the two shows, hundreds of people had stopped me, as they do, to say nice things to me, but every one of them mentioned this president thing.

"I went on the second time and it became more intense. And then I started thinking of how it's the greatest honour for any human being to be the president of the country that they love. My parents were Irish for hundreds of years and for them to look down and think that one of their offspring, me, could make it to the presidency, it was very, very tempting and I took it very, very, seriously."

In July, Flatley announced he would seek nominations to run for president of Ireland. However, he withdrew earlier this month, citing health concerns.

"It would be mendacious to suggest I had a clean bill of health and that's a prerequisite to run for president, so it wouldn't be fair for me to start a job I couldn't finish," Flatley said.

When asked if he would consider running again if he were in adequate health, especially given that he does not come from a background in politics, Flately said being president "is a nonpolitical role."

Flatley was speaking to press today while promoting the upcoming 30th Anniversary Tour for his iconic Irish dance show, Lord of the Dance.