When Trump's base says that "the deep state" is trying to start a war between the US and Russia, it's quotes like these that will be used to bolster their claims.
Edit: AFAICT both sides are "technically not wrong", homomorphic to the basic "free speech" argument, "it's technically not illegal".
I'm a bit flabberghasted that no one has constructed an ironclad technological solution to this wishy-washy dance of weak arguments, backed up by rhyme but not reason. Proof verifiers should come to politics.