Posted on 03/18/2017 6:51:13 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
Since the early days of the Cold War, the president of the United States has been known as the "Leader of the Free World."
According to several media outlets, this is no longer true.
The title originated in the late 1940s after World War II but did not become popular until the early 1950s. The "free world" first consisted of the Allied powers that stood up against the Axis powers during the Second World War. As the Cold War took shape, the free world became non-communist countries, led by the United States, that resisted the Soviet Union and pursued capitalism within their borders.
Since then, the president of the United States has been commonly referred to as the leader of the free world.
When Donald Trump won the election, however, several media outlets published articles suggesting that the president of the United States could no longer be called the leader of the free world because of his worldview.
The latest example is a Politico article published Thursday, titled "The Leader of the Free World Meets Donald Trump," which describes President Trump's meeting Friday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The article was written by James Rubin, who served as assistant secretary of state for public affairs under former President Bill Clinton.
Rubin writes that Merkel is the "last best hope" for Western civilization, arguing the U.S. abandoned its role as a world leader to solve the Syria conflict while Germany led by taking in Syrian refugees.
"Trump and Merkel thus represent the two poles of the debate about refugees and responsibility in 2017," the article says.
Rubin also references the two leaders' divergent approaches to Russia and the European Union, as well as their different styles and backgrounds, to show that Germany's chancellor, rather than America's president, is now leading the Western world.
Politico is not alone in publishing such a story. Other outlets have also ran articles claiming that Merkel is now the leader of the free world since Trump took office.
The Independent ✔ @Independent The leader of the free world is meeting Donald Trump today http://ind.pn/2ngNkIP 6:42 AM - 17 Mar 2017
Washington Post ✔ @washingtonpost How Angela Merkel, a conservative, became the 'leader of the liberal, free world' http://wapo.st/2gdIKFr 4:42 AM - 21 Nov 2016 Photo published for Analysis | How Angela Merkel, a conservative, became the ‘leader of the free world’ Analysis | How Angela Merkel, a conservative, became the ‘leader of the free world’
Her party used to test the limits of how far to the right a German conservative party can go. That is no longer the case. washingtonpost.com
CNN anchor Jake Tapper echoed this sentiment last week, arguing that Trump cannot be called the leader of the free world anymore. During an interview at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, Tapper said the German chancellor has now taken that mantel.
"It's a difficult environment when the commander in chief of the country–I'd say ‘Leader of the Free World,' but I think that's Angela Merkel now–hears anything he doesn't like and calls it ‘fake news,'" Tapper said.
Finally they’re starting to catch on to how we considered the Interloper In Chief Øbongo
Merkel? You have to be kidding. LOL
Good grief! The depths to which media delves to discredit our Man. Small hands? Not “our” leader?
They need a trip to the woodshed.
This is a step in the right direction. The President is the leader of the USA and nothing more.(As if that wasn’t enough)
Funny that the real people of the free world think otherwise and admire Trump
Anyone who thinks Germany is free world should make a comment critical of islam on German facebook or try to homeschool their kids
F the media.
Bingo.
I do not want him to be the leader of the free world. That just seems to get us involved in military conflicts in countries I do not care about.
It was always used in a mocking tone to apply to Republicans anyway, and with Trump they had to up the ante.
They never referred to Obama as the “Leader of the Free World” because the gap between any man and that title makes him look small for the role.
The sloppy, islam-loving Merkel is the leader of the free world?? In a pig’s eye (may allah be damned) she is!
BTW, is she the only German who doesn’t know English?
Good!
There is a lot of baggage that goes with the “title”
Let Germany or France or Great Britain be the leader of the free world while we sit on the side line and criticize their every action.
It is sort of funny that it may just be Russia that saves Europe from the Muslim invasion. Funny or ironic, take your pick.
The “world” outside the USA isn’t worth squat.
That’s alright, we don’t consider the media the dispenser of accurate news.
Now they need to realize we don’t care what they consider or think.
Liberals’ fairyland has nothing to do with the free world.
That’s ok, there’s no more free world to lead.
media don’t decide who are the leaders
The way that it does “save them” doesn’t sound pretty.
Merkel could raid hundred of mosques, deport thousands of muslims, restrict free speech and the press, but if Trump want to vet a few muslims and criticise the media, he’s a fascist and Merkel’s is leader of the free world
Well, for a “non leader” there sure are a lot of people falling in line behind him, and world leaders clammoring to meet with him.
What’s your point, media? No one condoning your thumb Sucking?
Maybe Rachel Mancow can find his 2006 tax returns for her sensational newscast.
The media’s decisions concerning the President does not policy make!
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