In honor of the 250th anniversary of America's founding as a nation, United States House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA04) was invited by United Kingdom House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to address the U.K. Parliament. This is a first-of-its-kind invitation to a sitting U.S. House Speaker and a historic moment for both America and Britain. It was World War II and the campaign against Hitler that sealed the U.S. and the U.K. as allies in the fight for freedom. As the world faces new threats and both countries wage battles against internal and external forces that seek to erode their national sovereignty, Johnson used his speech to reassure and recommit to the core principles that both nations share in common and work to defend.
During his address, Speaker Johnson emphasized the enduring and special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K and urged leaders in both nations to recommit to the core principles that have defined both since their founding.
After introductions by the U.K. House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker Johnson began his remarks with an acknowledgement and expression of gratitude for the honor of being the first sitting U.S. House Speaker to address the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Think about it: Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been the elected U.K. House of Commons Speaker since 2019 and has no doubt interacted with former Speakers Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy. The historic moment of a 250th anniversary notwithstanding, it is no small matter that Johnson is the one who received this weighty invitation, and he acknowledged the magnitude of this.
Johnson then highlighted the great weight of history shared between the two countries, as well as the present moment and its criticality on the world stage.
It is a profound honor to be speaking in Parliament today, to be the first U.S. Speaker of the House ever given this honor. I take it very seriously. As proud Americans, it's as though we have returned to the spiritual birthplace of our own nation, and the history here, the weight of it is palpable, as you know.
[...]
We have returned at a pivotal moment, obviously, in the great histories of our countries. To mark this anniversary that we have in our nation and to celebrate what we've achieved together in the past. And importantly: to face and overcome together the challenges of our present day. And I want to tell you my friends, we will do that together; I bring you that message.
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Johnson continued, alluding to his conversation with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer just after Starmer's annual address to the British people. Johnson agreed with the direction of Starmer's words, as he reinforced this message of partnership and special friendship between the oldest of allies.
He [Starmer] noted, of course, that the UK and the U.S. are close allies and that our strong, constructive partnership all these years has been built on mutual respect and focused on results. I thought that was exactly the right message and the right tone. And because of that we've always been able to work through our differences calmly. As friends, we will continue to do that. I want to assure you this morning that that is still the case.
Johnson affirmed the strength of this unified front, and how it has been pivotal in combatting the rising global threats of this modern age.
WATCH:
.@SpeakerJohnson to @UKParliament: "Defend the security of the western world.
— Edgar A Barrios (@Edgar_A_Barrios) January 20, 2026
That means secure borders, serious investments in our shared defense, and maintaining strategic strongholds around the world." pic.twitter.com/OxzwYIuZGJ
As we chart our renewal, America has no intention of walking alone. In fact, to do so would be self-defeating. More than ever before, we need the British people to be great and proud and patriotic, and you are. To work in close concert with us, as partners and friends, and to defend the security of the Western world. That means secure borders. It means, obviously, serious investments in our shared defense and maintaining strategic strongholds around the world. And we will figure this out together. But, again, the surest way that we protect this special relationship, long term, is by renewing and recommitting to our foundational principles.
Johnson dove into the core principles shared between the two great powers, one of which Johnson described as a "shared civic faith." He noted that the younger generations have become "disaffected" with the concepts of traditional institutions, Western philosophy, and the concept of civic responsibility.
We have faced in America, just as you have here, a truly menacing skepticism towards history and our national institutions. And it's even come to the point where great heroes like Sir Winston Churchill are questioned for their legacy. What has taken hold is a mindset that defines itself not by what it loves and seeks to preserve, but instead by what it condemns and seeks to tear down. And this growing disaffection, we see, particularly among our younger citizens, is a serious threat to the health of both our nations. If the next generation is never exposed to the deeper wisdom of the Western world, or the enduring tradition of the British parliament, or the genius of America's model of Republican self-government, then why would they feel any obligation to defend or preserve them?
WATCH:
US House Speaker Mike Johnson:
— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) January 20, 2026
If the next generation is never taught the wisdom of the West, why would they defend it?
This experiment in liberty cannot survive unless our principles become a shared civic faith. pic.twitter.com/SiDsMh0LxU
Johnson became more pointed about the core principles of freedom of speech and conscience, and urged that America and the United Kingdom continue to defend these values and stand with those who live and do the same.
WATCH:
.@SpeakerJohnson to @UKParliament: "Pushing back on policies that erode our citizens most basic liberties, especially, the fundamental freedoms of speech and conscience.
— Edgar A Barrios (@Edgar_A_Barrios) January 20, 2026
History teaches us: we can never go down the road of censoring and silence in unpopular opinions, because… pic.twitter.com/UL15bG7510
Our courage, clarity and conviction to defend truth, just as our ancestors did. And it means being able to say that some things are true, and good, and enduring, and others are not. And to call evil and madness what it is. It means repairing what we see in clear disrepair. From restoring, for example, secure borders that protect from the real and measurable harms of mass uncontrolled migration. From pushing back on policies that erode our citizens most basic liberties, especially the fundamental freedoms of speech and conscience. History teaches us: we can never go down the road of censoring and silence in unpopular opinions, because liberty is kept alive in the free marketplace of ideas. History further teaches us that the best solution to the problem of free speech is always more speech and those being unjustly persecuted for exercising those freedoms, such as Jimmy Lai, the British national being held in Hong Kong, must be defended. And the U.S. stands with the U.K. as you work to free him.
Johnson teased further the common thread of liberty and freedom between the two nations, and that reinforcing these principles and stewarding them for the next generation required a strong citizenry in both nations.
For Americans, our independence is not a rebuke of our British roots but rather a renewal of what is the best of what Britain had to offer the world. If renewal requires remembrance and stewardship, it also requires responsible citizens. Strong institutions are essential, of course; but when people are taught that their lives are determined by systems and structures, responsibility quickly disappears and with it, their purpose and their meaning. In both of our nations, we have too many people today on the sidelines. Particularly younger generations. We should want our citizens involved, gainfully employed, and contributing to their communities, of course.
Stable and thriving societies need families that raise children. They need churches and communities that form character, and patriotic men and women dedicated to leaving their country better than they found it. The simple truth is that freedom cannot survive if we outsource our responsibility as citizens.
Johnson then returned to the role and responsibility of national leaders to secure borders in order to secure those blessings of liberty for their citizens.
This is a fact that remains true at a national level. We cannot fail in our responsibility to protect our people and their security. Amongst our allies, we see the U.K. and Europe stepping up as faithful partners here, and I want to declare that today.
[...]
As Churchill taught us, the strongest alliances are between kindred countries of kindred principles. What has always set us apart from the rest of the rest of the world is our commitment to liberty, our pursuit of excellence, our desire to put faith and family at the center of our lives.
Johnson rounded out his speech with an exhortation to the U.K., as both countries pressed forward in their strategic and historic relationship.
While the West is not without its flaws, our greatest strength has always been our faith in human progress and our capacity for self-correction. Strong and lethal militaries matter, robust and thriving economies matter, but they mean little if we forget what we're fighting for.
Britain's GB News gave high praise to Speaker Johnson's speech. One correspondent said:
An extremely mature politician, Mike Johnson speaking there. Very historically rich speech, talking about the philosophical foundations of America and the West. I'd be tempted to say not many British politicians could give an address like that.
.@GBNEWS on @SpeakerJohnson's address to Parliament: "An extremely mature politician, Mike Johnson speaking there. A very historically can rich speech, talking about the philosophical foundations of America and the West. I'd be tempted to say not many British politicians could… pic.twitter.com/2tMTLBY2nF
— Edgar A Barrios (@Edgar_A_Barrios) January 20, 2026
House Speaker Mike Johnson's full 23-minute speech is below.
WATCH:
.@SpeakerJohnson's historic address to the @UKParliament commemorating 250 years of American Independence -- and the very Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom: pic.twitter.com/o9M28fJUs2
— Edgar A Barrios (@Edgar_A_Barrios) January 20, 2026
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