Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson just said on live TV he has no idea what Aleppo is, and people are losing it

By Rafi Schwartz  |  September 8, 2016 | 2:20pm
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Here’s a tip: If you’re running for the highest office in the land, you should probably know what someone’s talking about when they ask for your thoughts on one of the worst international crises in recent memory.

Gary Johnson, I’m looking right at you here, pal.

During Thursday morning’s taping of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president was asked for his potential administration’s response to the ongoing fighting in Aleppo, the war-torn Syrian city that’s become synonymous with that country’s gruesome sectarian conflict, and ensuing international refugee crisis.

Suffice it to say, he did not come off well.

“What is Aleppo?” Johnson asked, seemingly genuinely befuddled.

“You’re kidding?” “Morning Joe” host Mike Barnicle asked incredulously, before explaining that the city is the “epicenter” of the Syrian refugee crisis.

“Oh, okay, got it, got it,” Johnson quickly attempted to recover, characterizing Syria as “a mess,” and suggesting a diplomatic union with Russia to resolve the quagmire.

Johnson is polling at around 7% nationally.

UPDATE: In a short, post-air interview, Johnson said “no one is taking this more seriously than me. I feel horrible.”

Later Thursday morning, his campaign team released a statement owning up to the already-iconic flub, and insisting that daily security briefings would be “fundamental” to a potential Johnson presidency.

 
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