Either the WH speech writers are incompetent for not researching this story, or they figured they could simply get away with a mistatement of fact, which makes then damn fools.
If they were gong to use this guy as an example, they should have researched it far more deeply rather than relying on internet hearsay.
That is the Mystical Teleprompter upon which Allah The All Wise magically puts the script, and moves on. Hear. Obey. Surrender your will and the Peace of Allah will be with you through the words of Muhammed, may peace be upon him.
Besides, you oughta never argue with a guy named Barack, which was the name of Muhammed's (MPBUH) magical horse. It means sort of "Lucky" in Arabic, which come to think of it, ain't a bad name for a horse.