On a Thursday MSNBC show, Johnson’s “What is Aleppo?” regarding the city in Syria, was roundly mocked. “It’s the epicenter of the refugee crisis”, the interviewer said.
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The former Republican Massachusetts governor said he remains hopeful Johnson will be allowed on the debate stage alongside Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. “Do you really think that foreign policy is so insignificant that somebody running for president of the United States shouldn’t even know what Aleppo is, where Aleppo is, why Aleppo is so important?” he asked.
During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe“, Johnson initially professed ignorance about what Aleppo, the Syrian city at the center of the refugee crisis sweeping the Middle East.
The stumble could be a serious blow to Johnson’s campaign, just as he is making a final push to improve his standing in the polls.
If it was greater attention Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson wanted, he got it – but probably not the kind he wanted.
He added, “Can I name every city in Syria? No”.
When questioner Mike Barnicle said “You’re kidding me”, Johnson said no, he wasn’t kidding.
Weld pointed to a recent Washington Post poll of 50 states which found Johnson receiving at least 15 percent support in 15 states. On Wednesday, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, tweeted for the first time in two months: “I hope to get to see former GOP Governors Gary Johnson and Bill Weld on the debate stage this fall”. “I’m not sure you’re going sell the American public on the fact that somebody who can’t remember the name of a town in Syria is the worst person”.
Johnson’s blunder sparked widespread mockery, with a #WhatisAleppo hashtag trending on Twitter.
Johnson seemed to recognize the peril of the Aleppo error. Clinton chucked at a news conference when asked about Johnson’s flub. After speaking at a Politico convention in June, he was being directed to a room that was named after Harriet Tubman, the former slave and abolitionist.
Asked by a reporter afterwards, Weld said his and Johnson’s intent is still to win the election.
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He also released a statement, explaining that he is “human” and that as president he would surround himself with experts and receive daily security briefings to fill any gaps in his knowledge. In a subsequent interview on ABC’s “The View“, he said: “For those that believe this is a disqualifier, so be it”.
