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 countryI'd say Leader of the Free World,' but I think that's Angela Merkel nowhears anything he doesn't like and calls it fake news,'" Tapper said.
I’m not making excuses for her. She’s an international “leader” and should know at least some English. Every other European leader does. She looked like a third world idiot in that skanky pantsuit and the ear buds.
I quit giving a $h!+ what the media thinks in the mid 1990s.
I remember some foreigners sneering that we Americans call our president “The Leader of the Free World” as if he is emperor. At that time, long ago, I had never heard of that term or used it myself. I said that I an those I associate with don’t refer to him that way but that it was probably something the media created. See, if the POTUS is the Leader of the Free World and the MSM is a co-leader with the POTUS than the laudatory term flatters THEM. The MSM swaggers and brays and then real Americans are accused of imperialist narcissism.
So now that they don’t serve the “LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD” according to their “It’s my baseball bat, I’ll just take it and go home if I don’t win...” thinking, they have been demoted. That’s what all the MSM raving is about - they lost their imaginary crown. Long ago they started believing in their own ability to create false reality and they lost it.
Ironically, the MSM also likes to brag that they are “the conscience of the people” when they act like conscience-free sociopaths. The MSM took up residence in their own heads years ago and they become enraged when they bump into people who prefer reality.
The way that it does save them doesnt sound pretty.
Countries as well as individual make choices. Not doing anything is a choice. The European leadership believe they can absorb millions of Muslim into their country without any downside.
Well there will be a downside. Once the Muslims figure they have the power they will attempt to take control. There will be a blood bath. The one thing Muslims have in their favor is they are not afraid of killing or dying.
Two world wars cost Europe the cream of their manhood, and the past 60 years they have been breeding those qualities that make a good soldier out of their population.
Europeans panic at the sight of a gun, where will they find the strength to form a resistant when the killing begins?
Russia (like the US) has a long military tradition and could blunt the spread of Islam if it was in their interest.
WWIII is already in progress. Like the years leading up to WWII the stage is set. When will the flash over occur? Unknown, but it will occur.
The who? PLEEEEEEZE They have no power and no one gives a crap what they say.
Liberals and their “media” regularly expressed fawning adoration for the Soviet Union, Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega back during the Cold War.
This is nothing out of the ordinary for them.
A spelling error or typo in the headline? How embarassing. How shabby. How unprofessional!
Fixed for Mr. Kugel:
Mudia No Longer Considers the President Leader of the Free World
Yes, most world leaders do know some English, but...there
are exceptions and Frau Merkel is one. I personally do not like her politics of letting so many islamists into Germany.
Good grief! The depths to which media delves to discredit our Man. Small hands? Not our leader?
It’s non-stop, 24/7. And, it’s getting real old, fast.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.