Mike Johnson to address UK Parliament ahead of US 250th anniversary
Source: USA Today
Jan. 8, 2026, 5:57 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON On Jan. 20, House Speaker Mike Johnson will become the first sitting U.S. Speaker to address the United Kingdom's Parliament, in recognition of Americas 250th anniversary.
As America begins its Semiquincentennial celebration, I will be happy to visit one of the great shrines of democracy itself, where the principles that launched the long struggle for American liberty were debated and refined, Johnson said in a statement.
The United States declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 and formally broke from the British Empire at the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783. Many U.S. Founding Fathers were born in North America, which was controlled by European monarchies at the time, but were heavily influenced by the writings of English Enlightenment thinker John Locke when crafting the countrys government.
Although Johnson will be the first sitting U.S. House leader to speak in front of Parliament, his speech follows a tradition of Congressional visits to the London body.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/08/mike-johnson-uk-parliament-us-250/88089714007/
yorkster
(3,715 posts)Polybius
(21,603 posts)For what purpose would they invite him?
ananda
(34,564 posts)Why would anybody want to hear somebody
like that speak.
All he does is make you wanna puke.
Skittles
(170,055 posts)oh the irony
llmart
(17,413 posts)to the country that used to rule us and who we fought against to gain said democracy.
Skittles
(170,055 posts)we've both come along nicely.........OK I may be biased, I grew up there
Rhiannon12866
(251,705 posts)2naSalit
(100,737 posts)Raucous crowd, I hope they laugh at him and give him the business. It would totally be worth it if they did that. I would like to see that.
BumRushDaShow
(166,797 posts)when the House of Commons would let whoever was the PM at the time, have it!!
(and it looks like their HOC chamber is probably half the size of the U.S. House chamber, so they are all smashed in there)
And more recently - I miss this guy -
2naSalit
(100,737 posts)Last edited Fri Jan 9, 2026, 10:45 AM - Edit history (1)
I have watched hours of Parliament and they can get pretty loud in their opposition, not like the US where each is given time but interruption isn't allowed. In the Parliament, they stand up and yell... I can see moses Grindr mike trying to live through that.
Could be pretty entertaining.
BumRushDaShow
(166,797 posts)so he can try to "get control".
Dulcinea
(9,815 posts)House of Commons TV/CSPAN? I'd watch just to see Tiny Johnson be yelled at by members of Parliament.
mwooldri
(10,799 posts)Certainly available worldwide on Parliament Live. BBC Parliament is good but it's UK only, so Im not advising you to get VPN software and not advising you to get BBC iPlayer to not watch BBC content.
https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons
BumRushDaShow
(166,797 posts)CSPAN normally throws in programming showing Parliament. Obviously BBC would also probably cover it and I expect all kinds of streams will be set up on the 'net. Also what is left of PBS/NPR will probably stream.
underpants
(195,443 posts)The phrase "the right honorable gentleman is a jerk" refers to a notable exchange in the UK House of Commons in November 1991, during which the Speaker was forced to intervene to address the use of unparliamentary language.
During a heated debate on November 20, 1991, an unidentified Member of Parliament used the term "jerk" to describe another MP who was referred to with the formal honorific "right honorable gentleman" (which designates a member of the Privy Council).
The Speaker of the House at the time responded by saying:
"I am not sure whether 'jerk' is an entirely parliamentary expression. I have heard worse things here. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will refine his reference to the hon. Gentleman".
BumRushDaShow
(166,797 posts)Harker
(17,525 posts)I hope nobody shows up to hear him speak.
sdfernando
(6,032 posts)The PMs don't keep their feelings in check here. Its loud and as you say raucous. I hope little johnson (quite appropriate name) is soundly given the business.
2naSalit
(100,737 posts)Make my day to see that!
oasis
(53,399 posts)the fly
Orrex
(66,774 posts)bronxiteforever
(11,187 posts)Or the fact that earth is only 6,000 years old.
JustAnotherGen
(37,752 posts)I'm already embarrassed
Ray Bruns
(6,067 posts)That would be beautiful.
lonely bird
(2,805 posts)Will they let him take his balls with him when he leaves to come home?
Paladin
(32,354 posts)Allowing that disgraceful little trump whore to appear before Parliament is just disgusting. It's a safe bet that shit-weasel Johnson will be reading a speech directly from trump and trump's goons, word-for-word. Everybody, brace yourselves. Hope the demonstrations in London are big and loud. Maybe Congress can get some meaningful work done, while Johnson is overseas.
Baitball Blogger
(51,855 posts)If so, this is going to be fun to watch.
Vinca
(53,495 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(10,557 posts)But I hope there are a few nations out there who are thinking the same thing.
IcyPeas
(25,082 posts)in that special british way.
Wonder if he'll meet with Nigel farage or other right wing racists.
I hate when trumpers go to England and Scotland. Trying to influence brits.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,624 posts)... so he can request a nice couch or sofa or davenport or settee.
His visit should be a total shit-show.
snowybirdie
(6,598 posts)and heckle him,like they do their own members? Hope so.
marble falls
(71,361 posts)bucolic_frolic
(54,389 posts)The worst idea ever
choie
(6,771 posts)BradBo
(962 posts)Scrivener7
(58,754 posts)Joinfortmill
(20,373 posts)barbtries
(31,192 posts)and the list keeps growing, that I cannot bear to listen to him talk. it's all bullshit. it'll all be bullshit then. it's a charade and grieves me more than a little that the UK is signing on to that.
barbtries
(31,192 posts)I don't see it as an anniversary. I see it as a funeral.
i mean, i still celebrate my daughter's birthday, going on 25 years after she died. but the USA? what will we celebrate on the 250th anniversary of our democracy in a country where democracy is essentially gone?
Miguelito Loveless
(5,506 posts)is welcoming fascism. It will be the next to fall.
jls4561
(2,899 posts)Smilo
(2,014 posts)They should arrest his ass.
Emrys
(8,974 posts)when addressing Parliament.
Catcalls, heckling and booing are extremely unlikely. More likely the most you can hope for is that there will be a major boycott of his address and some pointed criticisms in interviews outside Parliament.