London, January 20, 2026 — In what is being described as “the most bizarre diplomatic development in decades,” leaked documents from the British Cabinet indicate that senior ministers have joked — and in some cases seriously discussed — the possibility of recolonizing the United States. The apparent trigger: former U.S. President Donald Trump’s obsession with Greenland and his repeated threats of punitive tariffs against British goods.

According to the 700-page internal briefing, the move, humorously codenamed “Operation Un-1776,” was initially circulated as a thought experiment by a UK think-tank concerned about trade, territorial disputes, and, inexplicably, proper tea etiquette in America.

“We never actually gave them permanent checkout rights,” one minister is quoted as saying, referring to America’s 1776 independence, sparking laughter and alarm across several Whitehall offices. “If someone has to teach them geography and trade rules, why not us?”

The leaked memo reportedly references Trump’s Greenland ambitions, his threat to annex the icy territory, and the impact of his tariff policies on British exports. Cabinet discussions included tongue-in-cheek proposals to start “small,” perhaps retaking Florida first, before moving northward — although officials acknowledged that the plan would be legally impossible and diplomatically catastrophic.

Diplomats and foreign policy experts have described the documents as “entirely satirical,” though some admit the idea has caused mild panic in American social media circles. MI6 has publicly denied any plans to send agents into the U.S., but the notion alone has triggered widespread online memes referencing tea, redcoats, and “Operation Un-1776.”

Analysts caution that any actual attempt to reassert British authority over the United States would not only violate international law but also trigger global condemnation, likely resulting in trade embargoes, sanctions, and military escalation.

Nevertheless, the British media has had a field day. BBC panels debated the hypothetical scenario for hours, and tabloids published polling asking readers whether the UK should “politely reclaim” the U.S., with results ranging from humorous “yes, only if we can bring free healthcare to Texas” to “absolutely not, we don’t want Florida again.”

Royal economists even humorously speculated that a “recolonization” might generate trillions in theoretical revenue, although they warned that managing fifty U.S. state governments, fast-food chains, and American sports leagues would be “a logistical nightmare beyond comprehension.”

In short: while no serious plans exist to recolonize America, the leaked documents have sparked the internet’s wildest tea-fueled fever dream, combining centuries of colonial nostalgia with modern grievances over tariffs and Greenland.

As one UK official summed it up:

“It’s funny. It’s completely impossible. And yet… somehow, we’re all talking about it.”