Lol that's exactly how I think the whole thing went down.
IF that turns out to be what happens, it’s unprecedented. The fake gas attack would have been designed to put him in a trap. The fake response gets him off the hook with the libs, doesn’t rub P-Putin’s nose in it too much, gets him his nuke in the Senate, and provides a nice fireworks show for P-XI to enjoy over his Creme Brulee. I like it.