Anyone can invoke anything as a rationale for doing something. That doesn't automatically make it true, and it certainly doesn't make any parties they reference

Anyone can invoke anything as a rationale for doing something. That doesn't automatically make it true, and it certainly doesn't make any parties they reference automatically culpable. There could be any number of reasons for citing an unrelated party, like to try deflect blame to a scapegoat or to try to motivate others to join one's cause. I don't think it's particularly controversial to suggest that there could be other motives for his statement than just wanting to clarify any confusion people might have.