WASHINGTON -- White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was literally at a loss for words on Friday when asked to comment on reports that Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson would release information proving that China is involved in fighting in Syria.

After White House officials, including National Security Advisor Susan Rice, said Carson's claim was untrue , the GOP presidential candidate said that he had better information than the White House did. He also said that he would make his evidence public this weekend, and that the White House would have a chance to review it then.

Earnest paused for a few seconds but eventually gave up on trying to find the right words.

"Maybe it violates my job description as a spokesman to be speechless, but in this case I am," he said.

President Barack Obama also disputed Carson's claim that the Islamic State, the group also known as ISIS, could be easily defeated, telling ABC News in an interview taped Thursday the former neurosurgeon "doesn't know much" about fighting the terrorist group.

Also on HuffPost: