Going forward, (new) POTUS no longer viewed as Leader of the Free World.

[Ilsa]

The US president has always been considered "leader of the free world", the protector of democracy. Many in EU don't think Trump fills those shoes because of his brazen sexism, racism, bigotry, hatred of minorities, etc. This is only one article. There are others.

http://www.thelocal.de/20161116/merkel-to-be-the-new-leader-of-the-free-world

Snip
Merkel, after 11 years at the helm, now looks increasingly like the only bulwark of stability and liberal freedom among Western allies.

"Merkel... has suddenly become the most important leader of the free, democratic and liberal world," said the left-leaning TAZ daily.

The historian and columnist Timothy Garton Ash agreed in an editorial for Britain's Guardian newspaper: "I'm tempted to say that the leader of the free world is now Angela Merkel." snip

[elleng]

1. I had no doubt this would be the case,

and expected Angela Merkel would get the 'title.'

[Ilsa]

2. Shocking, though, isn't it?

Germany hardly has the military strength to back it up, and Merkel isn't as suave in her speeches as Obama has been.

But it isn't as much about her as ig is about DT not being fit to be called LotFW.

[bdamomma]

3. Rather eerie

isn't it???? we are going back to 1930's Germany their darkest time and Germany has a woman leader...... sigh

Everyone else is going forward and we are going backwards.

[Pachamama]

4. With Trump setting the bar so low, it's not hard to see that this would happen

But Angela Merkel sadly is not as beloved as one might think. I am German and in Germany these days Angela Merkel is not as popular as she might be thought of in the US. And her policies of allowing refugees from Syria into Germany are making people who supported her always, start to question whether she is doing the right thing.

[Pachamama]

5. Remember this name for the future leader of the free world: Ursula Von der Leyen

Germany's Defense Minister - mother of Seven, Ob Gyn Doctor

Hopefully future Chancelor of Germany 😍

?w=1024&h=682

[Grey Lemercier]

6. You actually want a CDU Chancellor? Why???

I detest centre right parties. SDP is my choice everytime.

[Pachamama]

8. I said the name of an individual - not a party.

She is a remarkable woman who I believe will be Germany's future Chancellor and a really good one.

[Grey Lemercier]

11. but in order for von der Leyen to be chancellor, that means (as she is elected by the Bundestag)

the RW Christian Democrats would still be in overall power. I find it strange that you would support a centre right party (CDU) being in charge of Germany versus the centre left Social Democratic Party in coalition with the Greens and perhaps Die Linke. I understand that SPD is in a "grand coalition" with CSU and CDU atm, but I would much prefer that the actual left/centre left took back control of the Bundestag and thus the Chancellorship as well (Sigmar Gabriel has been a disaster for SPD IMHO, so I would not support him as Chancellor if we get to that point).

This whole thing would be like me (I am a UK/USA dual citizen who has lived, and do at present, the vast majority of my life in London) being for the Democratic Party in the USA (I most definitely am) BUT then support a Tory PM here in the UK (I MOST definitely do NOT).

Perhaps I am missing something?

[Ilsa]

9. Thanks for posting. I will. nt

[SticksnStones]

12. Ok, this might seem random but...

Why would the signage for "Women in the World" accent the letters 'mew'...

Like the sound a pussycat makes?

What's that about do ya think?

[progressoid]

7. Tracey Ullman does a great Merkel

[Fast Walker 52]

10. making American great again...

[mopinko]

13. well there is trudeau. but i agree. we thought w was bad for our standing

in the world. and cheney.

but many countries just will not stand for this man. especially if the recounts go badly for him.

[Initech]

14. Can we immigrate to Germany?

I do not want to live in a country with that man as my leader.

[Tanuki]

15. He'll settle for "Tweeter of the Free World" nt