In a striking diplomatic intervention, a senior American political figure has openly endorsed Prime Minister Keir Starmer's approach to the escalating dispute over Greenland, directly contradicting the aggressive rhetoric of former President Donald Trump.
A Pivotal Moment for the Special Relationship
The remarkable scene unfolded in the UK Parliament on the morning of January 20, 2026. Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was in London on a goodwill visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. His address to MPs came just hours after Trump launched a humiliating public attack on the British leader.
Johnson told attendees he was speaking at a "pivotal moment in the great histories of our countries" and stressed that the UK and US would face challenges "together". He revealed he had met Starmer at Downing Street the previous day and praised the Prime Minister's national address on the crisis.
Johnson's Direct Praise for Starmer's 'Right Tone'
"I told him I thought his national address a few hours earlier was well done," Johnson stated. "He noted, of course, that the UK and US 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."
He emphasised that because of this foundation, the two nations had "always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends, and we will continue to do that." The Speaker added, "I want to assure you this morning that that is still the case."
Johnson also disclosed he had spoken "at length" with Donald Trump on Monday, informing the former president that his mission for the UK trip was to "encourage our friends and help to calm the waters."
Trump's Inflammatory Rhetoric Escalates the Crisis
This call for calm stood in stark contrast to the actions of Trump himself. The previous night, following Starmer's press conference defending calls for "calm discussions between allies," Trump targeted the PM on his Truth Social platform.
He referred to the UK as a "'brilliant' Nato ally" – with the word brilliant in sarcastic quotation marks – and described UK plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as an "act of great stupidity."
In a subsequent interview with NBC News, Trump refused to rule out using military force to claim Greenland for the US. He also said he would "100%" follow through on threats to impose tariffs on allies, including the UK, over their handling of the crisis.
"Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten them," Trump told the outlet. "That’s what Europe should focus on — not Greenland." Reports also suggested Trump's aggressive stance may be linked to his resentment over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize the previous year.
Mike Johnson's public alignment with Keir Starmer represents one of the most significant and public fractures in the so-called "special relationship" in recent memory. It places a leading US Republican in direct opposition to his party's standard-bearer on a major international issue, underscoring the profound diplomatic tensions unleashed by the Greenland dispute.
