Who is Mike Johnson? It's not just a question on the far side of the Atlantic. Here in the United States it's been pretty much the question of the day, now that Mr Johnson has become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and therefore second in line to the Presidency of the United States.
Whilst he has not quite risen without trace, he is certainly little-known outside of his native Louisiana, and is definitely not a prominent figure on the national stage.
Mike Johnson was none of these things: sort of fresh, a member of the House since 2016. Civil in demeanor, a trait favourably noted by leading Democrat Representative Jim Clyburne. He seems well liked on a personal level on both sides of the political divide. He also scrapped the traditional celebrations for a new Speaker, and got straight down to business by passing a resolution condemning the Hamas attack on Israel and pledging US support.
And so they compromised on Johnson, not abrasive like Jordan, but a Trump loyalist. And not just in word. A lawyer by trade he was part of the team that defended Mr Trump in both his impeachment trials in the US Senate. He is strongly anti-abortion, something that endears him to the right of the Republican Party, but not the centre ground of the party. More significantly it puts him at odds with the centre ground of the American voters.
Not necessarily. Those who knew Johnson long before he became famous spoke yesterday of his skills as a smooth operator. Someone who can hold deeply conservative views, but not come across as angry or aggressive or over passionate or dismissive or argumentative. Just as a smooth, low key, quiet operator who gets things over the line.