Last year, I wrote that Woody Johnson was the wrong pick for U.S. ambassador to Britain.
I was wrong.
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The facts show that Johnson is doing a superb job for his nation. As an American who grew up in the U.K., I regard the service of the U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James as a matter of utmost importance. I thus pay close attention to what the ambassador and his team are doing and to the ambassador’s reputation in British society and government.
And judged on all these counts, Johnson is delivering for America.
First off, the ambassador is keeping America’s reputation strong. Traveling frequently across the British Isles and engaging with various causes of culture, politics, and security, Johnson has shown he retains the courage to defend Trump administration policy. This bears note because Republican administrations are rarely popular with the British people, who tend to be more politically liberal. Moreover, President Trump is far less popular than most Republican presidents. But where President George W. Bush’s ambassadors decided to shy away from the limelight and hide at high society events, Johnson has taken the opposite approach. He maintains an active Twitter feed, conducts frequent interviews with often very skeptical interviewers, and holds town hall events across Britain.
Indeed, Johnson has even allowed a television crew from Britain’s Channel 4 network — think ABC, CBS, or NBC — to film the day-to-day workings of the U.S. embassy. The series has been warmly received by British critics and viewers alike. Again, it is worth noting here that the easy choice for Johnson would have been to kept the cameras away and thus avoid any possibility of faux-pas moments. But confident in his embassy staff and determined to advertise the good work they do, Johnson had the courage to shine a light on American diplomacy. Doing so, Johnson honors the underappreciated men and women of the State Department.
More broadly, Johnson has cultivated a close relationship with the U.K. government, which values his friendship and influence with President Trump, and his regard for British customs and etiquette. Johnson is particularly well-regarded in U.K. national security circles.
So, yes, I was wrong, and I’m happy to admit it. In London, Woody Johnson is doing a great job for America.
