Libertarian nominee has another ‘Aleppo moment’

After embarrassing himself earlier this month by asking, “What is Aleppo?” the Libertarian candidate for US president had another cringeworthy moment on Wednesday, when he was unable to recall the name of a single foreign leader.

Asked by MSNBC host Chris Matthews to name his favorite foreign leader, Gary Johnson appeared flustered, and told the live audience at the University of New Hampshire, “I guess I’m having an Aleppo moment.”

Johnson tried to remember the name of Mexico’s former president Vicente Fox, but needed help from his running mate, Governor William F. Weld of Massachusetts, to recall the surname.

“Mine was Shimon Peres,” interjected Weld, but Matthews clarified that he wanted the name of a living leader. “Um, Merkel?” Weld said after a pause, referring to German chancellor Angela Merkel.

In describing the situation as an “Aleppo moment,” Johnson was referring to a gaffe earlier this month during MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, when host Mike Barnicle asked the candidate: “What would you do, if you were elected, about Aleppo?”

Aleppo, Syria’s largest city before the fighting started, has become a symbol of the carnage of that nation’s civil war and the suffering of its civilians. It has often been the centerpiece of reporting from the battle-scarred region.

But Johnson appeared unfamiliar with it. “About…?” he asked. “Aleppo,” Barnicle repeated.

“And what is Aleppo?” a perplexed Johnson shot back.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.