Tony Blair: U.S. should give up on 'being loved

Sometimes being the world's greatest power and most beloved country don't go together. It's the mark of a true leader to be able to pursue the distinction best for his country.

This is a lesson former British Prime Minister Tony Blair understands well after falling out of public favor with his support of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. But Blair sees the United States backtracking, swapping out its position as the world's superpower in exchange for popularity.

“If I were you, I would sort of give up on being loved,” Blair said today on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “If that’s your ambition as still the world’s greatest power, give up on it, because it’s not going to happen.”