No they did not, they gained a shit ton of power because millions of people immigrated there, then after a couple hundred years of being geographically isolated from western political struggles built up a strong economy/military force. Post WW2 they were THE world power and have done everything they can since then to maintain that status. No one elected them, they actively have decided to take that position. No one would bitch if America pulled all it's forces out of every other nation that they WANTED to occupy.