I was just thinking about how most people been hearing America is the number 1 country in the world since they were born. I don't know who the media will blame, but some will start stroking fear.
The average person might not care in the beginning, but once media, and politician starts making people fear I feel people are going to start looking for a "strong man" to save them.
There is nothing official about superpower status. People who want to believe it will be able to tell themselves that the U.S. is #1 for years after they actually aren't. Media and politicians are invested in keeping the lie alive.
Word. Almost got my ass kicked by an E*glish chud that one time because I said the UK doesn't have the strongest navy in the world. Britannia rules the waves is not an analysis of modern naval capabilities, like wtf
(edit: I fairness we'd both been drinking for hours by then and were not ar rational best bu still)