The issue of middlemen has caused very many mistrust issues as you said.
Wherever and whenever there's a middle man involved, there will be a certain percentage of mistrust
He made that statement with the facts or opinions he had at that particular time.
I would also assume that may the media houses forced to givehis view on Bitcion(since he is a successful investor).
In the end he made a rushed decision.
This is purely my assumption though