U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a historic address to Britain’s Parliament on Tuesday, saying he had come to help “calm the waters” between the United States and Europe, even as President Donald Trump’s latest remarks continued to strain transatlantic relations.

Marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, Johnson became the first sitting U.S. House speaker to address lawmakers in the Houses of Parliament. He called the invitation a “profound honor,” describing it as a return to the “spiritual birthplace” of the American nation.

His visit, however, unfolded against the backdrop of growing European unease over Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, and the president’s sharp criticism of close allies. Late Monday, Trump derided Britain’s decision to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands and renewed threats involving territory held by NATO partners.

Johnson did not reference those disputes directly in his speech. Instead, he adopted a conciliatory tone, emphasizing the enduring foundation of the U.S.–U.K. “special relationship.”

“We have always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends. We will continue to do that,” Johnson told lawmakers. “I want to assure you that that remains the case.”

He said that when planning the visit last fall, recent diplomatic tensions were unforeseen, but he told Trump on Monday that his goal was to “encourage our friends and help calm the waters.”

The address echoed a precedent set 50 years ago when then-House Speaker Carl Albert visited Parliament for the 200th anniversary of American independence. Johnson, however, is the first sitting speaker to deliver a direct address to British lawmakers.

European leaders have grown increasingly unsettled over the past year by blunt criticism from Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who have repeatedly attacked European immigration policies and questioned the continent’s political trajectory.

Johnson’s cordial tone contrasted with the sharper rhetoric of some administration officials, though he alluded to shared conservative priorities, including the need for secure borders, protection of free speech, and strong military defenses.

British House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warmly introduced Johnson, joking about the Boston Tea Party as an early trade dispute between the two nations.

Yet even as lawmakers exchanged pleasantries in Parliament, European officials continued to absorb the impact of Trump’s latest foreign policy interventions.