Ben Carson has awkward moment with Iowa fifth-graders: 'Who’s the worst student?'

One thing is for sure: for this fifth-grader, Ben Carson's visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is one he won't soon forget

Jan 9, 2016

One thing is for sure: for this fifth-grader, Ben Carson’s visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is one he won’t soon forget.

Carson was trying to make a joke about his own academic ineptitude growing up. “As a fifth-grade student, I was a horrible student,” he joked. “Anybody here in fifth grade? Who’s the worst student?”

That was when over half a dozen students turned and pointed to one boy in particular, and everyone burst into laughter.

Carson tried to come back from the embrassing moment by saying, “If you had asked that question in my classroom, there would have been no doubt about who it was.”

But the mistake had already been made, and there was no going back. Carson was absolutely roasted on social media.

“Dang, Ben Carson, I know u didnt say that. SNL get ready! He asked a group of 5th graders who was dumbest in the class. Jesus help us,” said one Twitter user.

He tried to recover by saying that he hoped the child in question would turn out to be a neurosurgeon, but there really was no way for him to spin this.

I don't even know what to say. #BenCarson asks 5th graders to single out worst student in their class, and they did https://t.co/t78b9h5cp0

— 2011teacher (@2011teacher) January 8, 2016