I think it's more likely to be an outright lie.
Never underestimate the enemy, especially when they put forth someone like Biden as the front man. The best way for the enemy to succeed is to make the enemy think they are stupid & incompetent. Everything they do is by design. They will use everything at their disposal to deceive what they are really doing.
They’ll , just, keep doing what they’re doing, just’ not “on the books”.