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We're all friends really? Trump's not-so-useful idiot Mike Johnson drops in on MPs [View all]
John Crace
Everyone was trying not to mention the one thing on everyone’s mind as they welcomed the US House speaker
So. That went well, then. A day after Keir Starmer gently pointed out that the US would be wrong to seize Greenland and that a period of calm diplomacy was needed, Donald Trump goes mad. Again. Having already rubbished the Norwegian prime minister for not awarding him the Nobel peace prize, the US president took aim at the UK prime minister. No good deed goes unpunished and all that.
...
All of which gave more of an edge to Mike Johnson’s speech to both houses of parliament, which had previously been billed as soporific filler to mark the 250th year of American independence. Though still not enough to guarantee a full room. There were plenty of spare seats. The last time I had been in committee room 14 it had been for a Tory leadership announcement. Then it had been packed.
...
The mood in the room was one of enforced jollity. One where everyone was trying not to mention the one thing that was on everyone’s mind. Like a wedding where all the guests are trying to ignore that the bride’s father has passed out and was last seen face down in his lunch. DON’T MENTION THE WAR. DON’T MENTION THE WAR. Keep it light. We’re all friends really. Even if right now it feels as the best man is now kicking the groom in the head.
Johnson began with a quick dig at the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. He had noted that the UK speaker had a tendency to go on a bit. He wasn’t wrong. Hoyle loves his own voice above all others. Then the obligatory note of thanks. It was a huge honour for him to be allowed to give an address to a three-quarters-full committee room at 9.30 in the morning. It was hard to know if he was being sarcastic or not. But maybe he has hidden depths. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Hoyle could find himself talking in a broom cupboard in the Capitol if he manages to wangle a return invite.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/20/mike-johnson-trump-not-so-useful-idiot-sketch
Everyone was trying not to mention the one thing on everyone’s mind as they welcomed the US House speaker
So. That went well, then. A day after Keir Starmer gently pointed out that the US would be wrong to seize Greenland and that a period of calm diplomacy was needed, Donald Trump goes mad. Again. Having already rubbished the Norwegian prime minister for not awarding him the Nobel peace prize, the US president took aim at the UK prime minister. No good deed goes unpunished and all that.
...
All of which gave more of an edge to Mike Johnson’s speech to both houses of parliament, which had previously been billed as soporific filler to mark the 250th year of American independence. Though still not enough to guarantee a full room. There were plenty of spare seats. The last time I had been in committee room 14 it had been for a Tory leadership announcement. Then it had been packed.
...
The mood in the room was one of enforced jollity. One where everyone was trying not to mention the one thing that was on everyone’s mind. Like a wedding where all the guests are trying to ignore that the bride’s father has passed out and was last seen face down in his lunch. DON’T MENTION THE WAR. DON’T MENTION THE WAR. Keep it light. We’re all friends really. Even if right now it feels as the best man is now kicking the groom in the head.
Johnson began with a quick dig at the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle. He had noted that the UK speaker had a tendency to go on a bit. He wasn’t wrong. Hoyle loves his own voice above all others. Then the obligatory note of thanks. It was a huge honour for him to be allowed to give an address to a three-quarters-full committee room at 9.30 in the morning. It was hard to know if he was being sarcastic or not. But maybe he has hidden depths. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Hoyle could find himself talking in a broom cupboard in the Capitol if he manages to wangle a return invite.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/20/mike-johnson-trump-not-so-useful-idiot-sketch
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