Presidential candidate Gary Johnson suffers another 'Aleppo' moment
The Libertarian Party nominee struggles to remember the name of the former president of Mexico during a television discussion.
Thursday 29 September 2016 13:19, UK
US presidential candidate Gary Johnson has suffered another "Aleppo moment" after struggling to remember the name of former Mexico president Vicente Fox.
Appearing on an MSNBC discussion programme with his running mate Bill Weld, the Libertarian Party nominee was asked by host Chris Matthews which world leader he most admired.
He appeared stumped and after pausing for thought confessed he was unable to remember Fox's name as he was experiencing a "brain freeze" and a repeat of the moment on a previous show that he appeared ignorant of Aleppo.
Last week he stunned the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe programme when asked a question about the Syrian city ravaged by the country's civil war.
Presenter Mike Barnicle had asked the businessman what he would do about the Aleppo crisis if elected to which Johnson replied: "What is Aleppo?"
Mr Barnicle replied with an incredulous "you're kidding me" before explaining: "Aleppo is in Syria. It's the epicentre of the refugee crisis."
The hashtag #WhatIsAleppo began trending on Twitter as members of the public weighed in with sarcasm and disbelief.
Johnson, a former two-term governor of New Mexico, is seeking inclusion in upcoming presidential debates against Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.
To do that he needs the backing of 15% of voters, but a recent Washington Post-Survey Monkey poll found he only has 13%.
:: Gary Johnson's "brain freeze"
Matthews: "Who's your favourite foreign leader?"
Johnson: "Who's my favourite?"
Matthews: "Any one of the continents, any country, just name one foreign leader you respect and look up to; anybody"
Weld: "Mine was Shimon Peres"
Matthews: "I'm talking about living. You gotta do this, anywhere, any continent, Canada, Mexico, Europe, over there, Asia, South America, Africa; name a foreign leader that you respect."
Johnson: "I guess I'm having an Aleppo moment in the former president of Mexico"
Matthews: "But I'm giving you the whole world, anybody in the world you like. Anybody. Pick any leader"
Johnson: "The former president of Mexico"
Matthews: "Which one?"
Johnson: "I'm having a brain freeze"
Weld: "Fox, Zedillo?"
Johnson: "Fox"