IMO, you aren’t off. I had the same thought: why did they want to do a photo op that copied the photo on that Islamic calendar? Why make it look like 9/11?
Why not just Photo-shop it with Air Force One? What was it, just a mindless joke on New Yorkers? Not buying the “I was clueless” excuse. (he may be, but not this time)
The whole incident is strange.
Maybe that was the code for the hidden followers of the ROP to start some action. Don’t they wait for the word to reach them from their leader?