Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson admitted that he once forgot the pledge of allegiance during an address before the Profession Services Council in Arlington, Va. on Thursday.
Johnson revealed that his snafu occurred while he was General Counsel of the Air Force and was asked to participate in a ‘Principal for a Day’ program at an elementary school in Queens, N.Y.
"We said the pledge of allegiance here. I know the pledge of allegiance, like everybody here does," Johnson said. "There’s a period where I actually forgot the pledge of allegiance, I hesitate to say this."
Johnson said that as part of the ‘Principal for a Day’ program, he was prompted to lead the students of P.S. 143 in the pledge of allegiance during the school’s morning announcements.
"It had been, I don’t know how long, since I said the pledge of allegiance," Johnson admitted. "I’m a trial lawyer, I’m not usually at a loss for words. But I now know how to say the pledge of allegiance."