Press Karoline Leavitt Rushes to Defend Trump After Reporter Calls Out Greenland and Iceland Mix-Up [Video]

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped up Wednesday to defend Donald Trump after a viral moment from his World Economic Forum speech that had critics claiming he repeatedly confused Greenland with Iceland.

Video

When NewsNation White House correspondent Libbey Dean posted that Trump “appeared to mix up Greenland and Iceland around three times,” Leavitt fired back on the social platform Twitter, writing, “No, he didn’t, Libby. 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.”

Trump’s address in Davos, Switzerland, was already drawing sharp reactions for its unconventional tone and substance as he renewed his push for the United States to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a proposal rejected by both Greenland’s and Denmark’s governments. While Trump insisted the U.S. would not use military force, he repeatedly railed against allies and threatened economic consequences.

Video of the speech shows Trump referring to “Iceland” when discussing the Arctic territory, a slip that quickly spread online and drew ridicule from global audiences. Critics argued the moment encapsulated broader concerns about the U.S. president’s diplomatic messaging on the world stage.

Leavitt’s defense homed in on a technicality between Trump’s prepared written remarks and his spoken words, spotlighting the administration’s rapid response strategy as the gaffe went viral. Her pushback underscores how senior aides are working to shape the narrative after what has become a defining moment of controversy from his Davos appearance.