House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addressed the United Kingdom Parliament Tuesday morning as President Donald Trump challenges Britain’s policies toward Greenland and the Chagos Islands.

“I spoke to President Trump at length yesterday,” Johnson began. “I told the president that I felt that my mission here today was to encourage our friends and help to calm the waters, so to speak, and I hope to do so.” Johnson was invited to deliver a speech to Parliament celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

Johnson is the first speaker of the House to address Parliament in this capacity.  

It was a true honor to address the UK Parliament today as the first U.S. Speaker of the House to do so. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our independence, I wanted to emphasize an important truth — that our shared heritage with Great Britain creates a deep bond between… pic.twitter.com/coZAAMq19X

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 20, 2026

The speaker shared that he is “confident that we can and will maintain and strengthen our special relationship between these two nations.”  

This relationship continues to, “send a message of unity and resolve to our allies around the world, and remind our adversaries and the terrorist and tyrants everywhere that our nations that are dedicated to freedom and justice and order and human dignity are stronger and more resolved now than ever before,” Johnson continued. 

The special relationship between America and Britain has had it’s flash points as of late.

Trump announced over the weekend that he would impose a 10% tariff on any country opposing a deal allowing the U.S. to acquire Greenland, including the U.K.

Trump also criticized Britain’s decision to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. He called the deal an “act of great stupidity,” in a Truth Social post early Tuesday morning.

“Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER,” the president added. “There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness.”

For his part, Johnson also addressed the challenges China and Russia pose to American and British interests.

“We see China, Russia, and Iran grow more aggressive and emboldened as they intensify their efforts to exert economic, political, and military influence around the world,” Johnson said. “We see a callous disregard for basic human rights, new provocations, and even the theft of intellectual property on a scale like we have never seen before.”

President Trump has his eyes set on Greenland and may tariff countries opposed to the US acquisition of the island. But Congress is skeptical of Trump’s designs for the Denmark-owned island, writed @virginiagmckhttps://t.co/zshUf5t4hj

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) January 19, 2026

Johnson also made an oblique reference to the current controversy surrounding Greenland. “Clearly, President Trump is taking seriously the modern and dynamic threats that China and Russia pose to our global security, especially in focus the last few days, as it relates to the Arctic,” Johnson said.

“Thankfully, our special relationship has always proven much more powerful and enduring than the enemies we face. Together, we represent a common history and heritage and the greatest, most free, most prosperous, most successful and benevolent civilization the world has ever known. And it will endure only as long as we reject, decline, and recommit to our foundations,” Johnson concluded. 

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