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BumRushDaShow

(170,361 posts)
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:07 AM Jan 2026

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 America’s 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 country’s 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/

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Mike Johnson to address UK Parliament ahead of US 250th anniversary (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 OP
Oh goody... yorkster Jan 2026 #1
Why? Polybius Jan 2026 #2
... BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 #6
It's a complete mystery to me. ananda Jan 2026 #46
a Trump whore, waxing on about democracy Skittles Jan 2026 #3
"waxing on about democracy"... llmart Jan 2026 #4
well there's nothing wrong with that Skittles Jan 2026 #5
Good Grief! Aren't the British peeved enough at us already?? Rhiannon12866 Jan 2026 #7
That's a pretty... 2naSalit Jan 2026 #8
I used to religiously watch "Question Time" on Sunday evenings on CSPAN BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 #9
He was a great Speaker! 2naSalit Jan 2026 #10
He'll probably bring his gavel BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 #11
Will this be televised in the USA? Dulcinea Jan 2026 #22
Probably it will be televised on CSPAN. mwooldri Jan 2026 #23
Agree with mwooldri BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 #25
"The right honorable gentleman is a jerk!" underpants Jan 2026 #31
... BumRushDaShow Jan 2026 #32
With Johnson, it'll be "ordure!" Harker Jan 2026 #35
Better yet Rebl2 Jan 2026 #41
Was just thinking the same thing sdfernando Jan 2026 #42
Would certainly... 2naSalit Jan 2026 #44
"Will you walk into my parlor said the spider to oasis Jan 2026 #12
Presumably he'll have to pry his lips from trump's ass first Orrex Jan 2026 #13
Maybe he will lecture the Brits on the evils of Charles Darwin bronxiteforever Jan 2026 #14
God damn it JustAnotherGen Jan 2026 #15
I just want to know if they are going to have question. Time. Ray Bruns Jan 2026 #16
Hmmm lonely bird Jan 2026 #17
There's just no end to America's humiliation. Paladin Jan 2026 #18
Erm, is this the bullpin where the elected officials in the seats are allowed to throw shade? Baitball Blogger Jan 2026 #19
Hope they boo him. Loudly. Vinca Jan 2026 #20
I won't say what I am thinking... OldBaldy1701E Jan 2026 #21
I think they allow members of the public in to watch. I hope he is heckled... IcyPeas Jan 2026 #24
I hope he studies a bit of "British English", ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2026 #26
Can they yell snowybirdie Jan 2026 #27
This'll be fun. The UK press will have him for a snack. marble falls Jan 2026 #28
This is not The Onion or Borowitz??? bucolic_frolic Jan 2026 #29
Stupid ass Brits choie Jan 2026 #30
UK, lock the door! DO not let that traitor in. BradBo Jan 2026 #33
Hope they rip him to shreds. Scrivener7 Jan 2026 #34
He'll be booed. Joinfortmill Jan 2026 #36
he's one of those, barbtries Jan 2026 #38
at this moment, barbtries Jan 2026 #37
Apparently the UK government Miguelito Loveless Jan 2026 #39
Perhaps Larry the cat will recognize him for the vermin he is, and exterminate him. jls4561 Jan 2026 #40
Disgusting - shouldn't be allowed Smilo Jan 2026 #43
I think people here have very unrealistic expectations of the sorts of receptions even unpopular foreign figures receive Emrys Jan 2026 #45

ananda

(35,262 posts)
46. It's a complete mystery to me.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 08:56 PM
Jan 2026

Why would anybody want to hear somebody
like that speak.

All he does is make you wanna puke.

llmart

(17,637 posts)
4. "waxing on about democracy"...
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:49 AM
Jan 2026

to the country that used to rule us and who we fought against to gain said democracy.

Skittles

(172,012 posts)
5. well there's nothing wrong with that
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 06:51 AM
Jan 2026

we've both come along nicely.........OK I may be biased, I grew up there

2naSalit

(103,136 posts)
8. That's a pretty...
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 07:10 AM
Jan 2026

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

(170,361 posts)
9. I used to religiously watch "Question Time" on Sunday evenings on CSPAN
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 07:21 AM
Jan 2026

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

(103,136 posts)
10. He was a great Speaker!
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 07:35 AM
Jan 2026

Last edited Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:45 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.

Dulcinea

(10,149 posts)
22. Will this be televised in the USA?
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:19 AM
Jan 2026

House of Commons TV/CSPAN? I'd watch just to see Tiny Johnson be yelled at by members of Parliament.

mwooldri

(10,819 posts)
23. Probably it will be televised on CSPAN.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:26 AM
Jan 2026

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

(170,361 posts)
25. Agree with mwooldri
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:37 AM
Jan 2026

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

(196,743 posts)
31. "The right honorable gentleman is a jerk!"
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 10:12 AM
Jan 2026

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".

sdfernando

(6,086 posts)
42. Was just thinking the same thing
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 02:28 PM
Jan 2026

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.

bronxiteforever

(11,212 posts)
14. Maybe he will lecture the Brits on the evils of Charles Darwin
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 08:28 AM
Jan 2026

Or the fact that earth is only 6,000 years old.

 

Paladin

(32,354 posts)
18. There's just no end to America's humiliation.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 08:47 AM
Jan 2026

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

(52,463 posts)
19. Erm, is this the bullpin where the elected officials in the seats are allowed to throw shade?
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 08:55 AM
Jan 2026

If so, this is going to be fun to watch.

OldBaldy1701E

(11,247 posts)
21. I won't say what I am thinking...
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:06 AM
Jan 2026

But I hope there are a few nations out there who are thinking the same thing.

IcyPeas

(25,559 posts)
24. I think they allow members of the public in to watch. I hope he is heckled...
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:31 AM
Jan 2026

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

(24,693 posts)
26. I hope he studies a bit of "British English", ...
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 09:39 AM
Jan 2026

... so he can request a nice couch or sofa or davenport or settee.

His visit should be a total shit-show.

barbtries

(31,317 posts)
38. he's one of those,
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 10:44 AM
Jan 2026

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

(31,317 posts)
37. at this moment,
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 10:43 AM
Jan 2026

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?

Emrys

(9,150 posts)
45. I think people here have very unrealistic expectations of the sorts of receptions even unpopular foreign figures receive
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:58 PM
Jan 2026

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.

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