Isaac Schorr at Mediaite:

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at NewsNation’s Libbey Dean on Wednesday while brazenly denying that President Donald Trump referred to Greenland as Iceland during his speech in Davos, Switzerland that morning.

Dean wrote on X/Twitter:

During his @wef remarks, President Trump appeared to mix up Greenland and Iceland around three times.

Leavitt responded:

No he didn’t, Libby [sic]. His written remarks referred to Greenland as a “piece of ice” because that’s what it is. You’re the only one mixing anything up here.

Two things.

First, of course there’s video of Trump saying “Iceland” multiple times during the speech—the entire thing was recorded and broadcast around the world. Snopes identified the two moments from the full speech (42:15 and 43:29) so you can listen for yourself. “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”—George Orwell, 1984.

But second, note the neat rhetorical sleight of hand Leavitt pulls here: she refers to Trump’s written remarks, shifting the focus from what Trump said to what Trump was supposed to say. Of course his written remarks would include “Greenland”—that’s Trump’s obsession du jour. Dean didn’t mention written remarks. And, as the video shows, Trump does say “Iceland.” This trick allows Leavitt to (disingenuously) “correct” Dean, while leaving open her ability to later claim she wasn’t “lying” about Trump’s flub, because she wasn’t referring to his spoken words. Just a little misunderstanding… oopsies!

Whether taught or absorbed through proximity to skilled practitioners, Leavitt has perfected the art of dissembling.