Can they not make a legal claim given that their employer is putting words into their mouth in communications with the public, especially given that it’s highly politically charged wording that would damage their reputation, plus in a normal country saying such things at work like that would get you sacked.

I don’t know the legalities, but if my employer made it seem like I’d said something like that I’d demand an immediate apology, a reprimand for whomever did it, and a public redaction and apology sent to everybody that had received the fraudulent message.

That seems reasonable and fair.