[fuzzfactor]

For the good part of a century, especially after World Wars, the US president has always been considered the _Leader of the Free World_ without having to be an actual ruler of the world.

When US presidents traveled abroad, they were treated as such by great international leaders and their citizens. Even in nations where all concerned were aware of their shortcomings in the _freedom_ area, the US President as the _Leader of the Free World_ was in their vocabulary. With or without envy or admiration.

Up to and including Obama.

I noticed it was over the way they laugh at Trump.

The role really wasn't his to forfeit, partly because it was rhetorical and largely unearned to begin with.

Most previous Presidents didn't rightfully earn the role either, most kind of inherited it by default.

Trump is just the first one to fail bad enough for his underachievement to fall below the default level.