LONDON, UK — Ahead of his address to the U.K. Parliament to mark America’s 250th anniversary, Speaker Johnson joined Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Wilfred Frost on Sky News, and Nigel Farage on GB News to discuss the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. Speaker Johnson also discussed President Trump’s foreign policy, free speech concerns in the U.K., and the Trump Administration’s interest in Greenland.
“We need to stand for the principles of Western civilization that have defined both of our countries, and I think really celebrate on the anniversary of our 250th year of independence, the common bond and the common ground that we’ve always had,” Speaker Johnson told Sky News. “It’s more important now probably than it ever has been because of the things going on around the globe. And I think it’s a great time for us to celebrate that.”
Watch Speaker Johnson on the BBC, on Sky News, on GB News.
On the U.S.-UK special relationship:
I say to our friends in the U.K. to keep faith in America as we keep faith in you. This is a special relationship, as is often said. It’s an important relationship. It was forged in the 20th century due to the wars, the great wars that we fought together. And we have these things in common, these shared values, the ideas of individual freedom and human dignity and the rule of law. Those are the foundational principles of Western civilization, and we are the guardians of that and the pillars of those foundations. And we should stand strong together. There are periods and epochs in our history with different leaders and different styles and all of that. At the end of the day, though, I think our foundational truths are the same. And our friendship is important. And I think as long as America and the U.K. stand together, it’s good for everyone around the globe.
On freedom of speech in the U.K. amid discussions of banning X:
It’s one of our core principles. We believe in the free marketplace of ideas. My background is in constitutional law, and I used to actually litigate free speech cases, religious liberty cases in the courts. And of course, in the court of public opinion. Look, our answer to offensive speech is not to censor and silence it, but to expand the free marketplace of ideas. The answer to disfavored speech is better speech, more speech. So as conservatives, that is our general philosophy; that we don’t want to just get in the business of government turning down the voices they disagree with because it ultimately leads, in our view, to great harm. I mean, ultimately, let’s be honest, it’s the conservative viewpoints that are typically targeted by governments. The people who are freedom minded, you know, the rugged individualists, are the ones who keep government at bay.
I think it would be a detriment to the people of Great Britain and to the U.K. You know, Elon Musk is a friend. I’ve gotten to know him well over the last couple of years. I think he’s acknowledged that there are constant improvements that could be made to his platform, but I think banning it is the wrong solution.
On President Trump’s foreign policy:
We don’t have a king; we have a strong Commander-in-Chief and America needed that. And frankly, freedom-loving people around the world needed that. A strong America is good for everybody around the globe, and most people recognize that and state it as an objective fact. He’s exerting peace through strength again. He uses bravado sometimes to do it. That’s his personality. But you know what? The American people voted for a strong personality. We had, in my view, weakness for the four years that preceded his second term, and he needed to come in strong. And he has, and I think it’s had a great effect around the world. I mean, look at the global conflicts and wars that have been resolved because he was willing to say and do both things. And I think that’s important.
On the Trump Administration’s interest in Greenland:
I think you should look at the results and emphasize that more than the rhetoric. I mean, President Trump is trying to return us to peace through strength, which is an important principle in the U.S. Ronald Reagan used to talk a lot about that. And at times when America is strongest, it is good for freedom-loving people around the world. It’s an objective truth, and most people acknowledge that. What the President is talking about with Greenland is the strategic geography of that place, the importance it has to us and ultimately to our allies as well because of that. But he’s not the first president to say that. It goes all the way back to Harry Truman. I mean, this has long been an interest and an emphasis of American foreign policy, and it’s being brought to the forefront again because of the increasing threats from China and Russia. And so that’s what the President is talking about. Now, we don’t anticipate any kind of military intervention. And the evidence of that is that he’s appointed a special envoy to go and negotiate through diplomatic channels what further relationship, involvement, or presence we might have there. It happens to be the governor of my state in Louisiana, Jeff Landry. And I know Jeff well. I know his intentions. We’re in good faith in this. But I do think it’s important for us to be there and have a presence.
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