Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson had no idea what Aleppo was during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Thursday.
“What is Aleppo?” he asked, in a moment that could define his campaign and essentially end his long-shot presidential bid.
Mike Barnicle asked Johnson what he would do about Aleppo if elected president, to which Johnson replied, “About?” When he asked what it was, Barnicle looked shocked and replied, “You’re kidding.”
Johnson ensured he wasn’t joking and Barnicle went on to explain that Aleppo is in Syria.
“It’s the epicenter of the refugee crisis,” Barnicle said.
Joe Scarborough said Johnson “disqualified himself” and political reporters on Twitter weren’t as nice as the “Morning Joe” co-host. Viewers on social media were in disbelief, with one person tweeting, “Give me one smart voter who is for Johnson after this, and I will give you a dumb voter.”
Johnson is required to have 15 percent of the country’s support to gain access to the debate stage for the upcoming showdowns between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. He was behind the magic number before the Aleppo moment, and this isn’t going to help the Libertarian’s chances.
Here is the awkward interview:
.@mikebarnicle: What would you do, if you were elected, about Aleppo? @GovGaryJohnson: And what is Aleppo? https://t.co/ZbqO5RAEsk
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) September 8, 2016
Check out some of the reaction on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/rashmipappu/status/773854184743370752
Gary Johnson flunks Foreign Policy 101 — potentially tanking his chances of being taken seriously #WhatIsAleppo https://t.co/O8ReWwjq5i
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) September 8, 2016
.@JoeNBC on @GovGaryJohnson's #WhatisAleppo moment: He disqualified himself this morning on #morningjoe https://t.co/9NvRhriVHH
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) September 8, 2016
Maybe he's a cat person and he's never heard of Alpo dog food?#WhatIsAleppo
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/LukeBrinker/status/773867006722465792
Gary Johnson's #WhatIsAleppo flub proves why 3rd party candidates never gain steam. /1
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) September 8, 2016
#WhatIsAleppo now on @CNN. @CAmanpour reacts: "That is the kind of thing that gives the rest of the world great pause."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 8, 2016
This is #Aleppo. #whatisaleppo pic.twitter.com/l6Fqs8I5Pa
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) September 8, 2016
#WhatIsAleppo
No more needs to be said.— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) September 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/SHCSouthJersey/status/773852482803863552
https://twitter.com/Lollardfish/status/773852173620899840
I know Johnson has said he's not gonna smoke weed while running for POTUS but I think he's waking and baking #WhatIsAleppo
— Jenny DeMilo LLC (@jennydemilo) September 8, 2016
That was the most cringe-worthy thing I've ever seen and that's saying a lot because Trump. #whatisaleppo
— Louise Knott Ahern (@weezwrites) September 8, 2016
ohhhh @GovGaryJohnson I have no words… #WhatIsAleppo I really hate this election.
— Morgan Ortagus (@MorganOrtagus) September 8, 2016
Well there goes Gary Johnson. You blew your big stage. @Morning_Joe #whatisaleppo
— Paul Jordan (@PJordan_FL) September 8, 2016
Huh, Gary Johnson just quit running for POTUS on #morningjoe this morning. #WhatisAleppo.
— Surly Temple (@BrettDDaigle) September 8, 2016