Dem
47
GOP
53
Here is the question we put before readers last week:
D.D.W. in St. Louis, MO, asks: On January 20th, who will be the Leader of the Free World?
And here some of the answers we got in response:
D.A. in Brooklyn, NY: No disrespect intended to D.D.W. in St. Louis, but this is a ridiculously easy question and I'm sure that my answer will be the answer of the majority of your correspondents: Nobody
D.L. in Uslar, Germany: On January 20, the Leader of the Free World will be no one. During the first Trump administration, it took a while for the mantle to pass to Angela Merkel (at least, she seems to have been the person most commonly seen as holding the title). The same thing will happen this time. Who the new Leader will be depends on whatever immediate crisis threatens the Free World and how one defines that.
I'd say the frontrunners right now are probably Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen, since the ongoing defense of Ukraine is the likely threat. It just depends on which of them is seen as publicly strongest in leading the charge. A dark horse could emerge, of course—for example, as a result of the German elections in February.
G.L. in Kelowna, BC, Canada: Ursula von der Leyen.
From 2016 to 2020, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau could both lay a good claim—based on leading large, rich, free countries, holding personal popularity, being able to make waves in positive directions.
At this point, the USA is looking at a very dark chapter, Trudeau is wildly unpopular and Canada's openness and liberality is under threat from very Trumpian-style forces, and Olaf Scholz in Germany is being asked to step aside by his own party as he stares down a collapsing coalition that couldn't last a single term. None have the political or moral force to lay claim to being leader of very much, certainly not "the free world."
Keir Starmer leads a diminished U.K. that has no idea where it wants to be (except with fewer immigrants, and a declining economy), Emmanual Macron's France could step up but is too busy fighting internal battles against the far right, and Italy and Spain haven't had a leadership role like that for centuries. Japan is too isolationist, in demographic decline, and still weighed down by history. Russia, India, China are all up against or completely outside "the free world."
Ursula von der Leyen, however, has been something of a Washington figure. The position of President of the European Commission has long been a relatively minor post, relegated to herding the nationally appointed cats on the Commission. Germany, France, and the U.K. in particular sought to minimize the office, viewing it as a threat to their national autonomy. Who could have named prior presidents? (Well, except for Jacques Delors 85-95, due to tabloid press shouting "Up yours, Delors!") As the thirteenth President of the Commission and first woman, von der Leyen has overseen the implementation of Brexit, the response to the pandemic, and coordinated aid to Ukraine in spite of some Russia-friendly governments such as Budapest and Bratislava. She has taken a famously sclerotic bureaucracy and turned it into a force̵not without criticism (such as control freakery over the policies, or indeed the values of the policies themselves). The Americans used to demand "when I want to speak to Europe, who do I call?" That question now has an answer. Particularly with the appointment of Kaja Kallas (ALDE-Estonia) in Foreign Affairs (Kallas was outspoken for years on the need for Ukraine to be able to defend their freedom), there is little chance of the activism and force slowing down. Lest this be coming across fanboyish, I don't always agree with her, as she's EPP (think Lisa Murkowski) and I'm ALDE (think Diana DeGette), but her power is undeniable and I don't see anyone else wearing the leader of the free world mantle on Jan. 20, 2025.
K.B. in Edgewater, NJ: Co-leaders NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Taylor Swift fill in the "Blank Space."
A.W. in Arlington, VA: The only current world leader with the chops and charisma, plus obvious dedication to freedom, is Volodomyr Zelensky.
W.V. in Andover, MN: Pope Francis.
M.M. in Plano, TX: On January 20, the leader-in-chief of all the world's democracies will be a triumvirate: Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Olaf Scholz.
M.C. in Newton, MA: My pick for "Leader of the Free World" is French President Emmanuel Macron. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz isn't sufficiently well-known; in fact I had to look up who the Chancellor currently is. British P.M. Keir Starmer also isn't well-known in the U.S. (I looked that up as well, but actually remembered that he's the Labour leader who became PM after they won the election), plus Brexit put a major dent in the U.K.'s claim to leadership on the international stage.
Obviously, Trudeau is right out.
D.E. in Lancaster, PA: Justin Trudeau, eh? Maybe we should stop looking at them as the Invaders from the Great White North but rather as the Liberators from the Free World. He's a damn sight better than the hosers who have been and will be running/ruining this country! Pitter patter, Justin.
D.S. in Davis, CA: The leader of the free world will be whoever has the best ability to laugh about current events. The Democrats' downward spiral began when they traded "weird" for "fascist." Self-righteousness is not funny, or relatable. The only way to defeat the boggart is to laugh at it. Humor got me through so many bad administrations in the past, and I think that the only way to get through this one is to have the last laugh.
S.Y. in Skokie, IL: Even though he's deceased, I suggest George Carlin. His stand-up tapes are all available. And guess who it sounds like he's making fun of?
M.A. in Pea Ridge, IL: What is this "Free World" of which you speak?
Here is the question for next week:
S.S. in West Hollywood, CA, asks: Now we know who the leader of the free world is. What I really want to know is: Who is the leader of the Trump opposition? Is there any person, journalist, media outlet, or organization, elected or not, foreign or domestic, who will rise to become an effective voice of conviction against the avalanche of lies, corruption, and immorality about to be released on the world? Please, somebody, tell me there's opposition somewhere out there ready, capable and willing to push back!
Submit your answers to comments@electoral-vote.com, preferably with subject line "Agent Anti-Orange"!