This is a common trait of the "Useful Idiot."
When Hitler put the average Hitler supporter out with a shovel to build the Autobahn, the average Hitler supporter would ask "Does Hitler know of this?"
When Stalin put the average Stalin supporter out to the Siberian Gullogs , the average Stalin supporter would ask "Does Stalin know of this?"
The average IQ (used) to be 100 but have of the people are on the south side of that. Those are the people that are "Useful Idiots". This particularly applies if those south think they are on the north side, way north.