The Republican presidential debate earlier this week saw all of the candidates fighting to show that they would be the most competent leader to fight Daesh (ISIS). However, in what appears to be becoming a regular occurrence at these events, facts did not seem to matter very much.
Perhaps the most startling of the blunders came from governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who claimed that he would be able to persuade reluctant allies in the Middle East to join the fight against Daesh. He said:
“When I stand across from King Hussein of Jordan, I say to him, ‘You have a friend again, sir, who will stand with you to fight this fight,’ he’ll change his mind.”
The problem is, in order for Christie to stand across from King Hussein he would have to have some pretty awesome superpowers: King Hussein of Jordan passed away in 1999.
Being able to make friends who are currently in the afterlife might actually make the candidate a good president, but it is doubtful that Christie will make such a revelation any time soon.
The current leader of Jordan is King Abdullah II, but no other candidate called him out on the major gaffe. Twitter, on the other hand, did.
Jordan "King Hussein" gaffe shows Chris Christie can't remember names. Maybe that's why his folks gave him such an easy name to remember.
— Nancy Daly (@Nancy_Daly) December 17, 2015
Chris Christie accomplishing his goal of befriending King Hussein of Jordan will be quite impressive considering he's been dead since 1999.
— John Costello (@NAMass821) December 17, 2015
King Hussein of Jordan has been dead since 1999. Highly unlikely Chris Christie will ever be able to talk to him. Chris, how stupid are you?
— Annette Springs (@net_springs) December 17, 2015
Oh dear. Did anyone tell Gov Christie that King Hussein of Jordan died in 1999 & he won't be able to sit with him? What an embarrassment
— Debbie Willam (@DebbieWillam) December 16, 2015
Chris Christie says not only will he work with King Hussein of Jordan, he'll also work with Winston Churchill of Great Britain.
— chaplinlives (@chaplinlives) December 16, 2015
Chris Christie's stated plan to befriend King Hussein of Jordan might be a macabre affair, given his death in 1999. pic.twitter.com/f88D5xXZKG
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) December 17, 2015
