I think Americans are sometimes very starry eyes about the extent to which people in other countries see them as an inspiration, rather than a warning. Rapturous words about how it's seen as "a shining city on a hill" and so forth.

It's much more complicated than that. Along with an appetite for a slice of the cake and an appreciation of and genuine affection for of many aspects of the culture there's an irritation at the way these often seem to take over the world. When things go wrong for America the rest of the world's reaction includes a measure of satisfaction.

There's nothing unusual in this - much the same was equally true of the British Empire in its pomp, and even today by many. But I get the impression Americans may be more prone to believing their national myths.