Completely guessing here, but this feels like it was prompted by journalists pressing him about it, probably in relation to a diversity story.

In other words, they're likely using the quote as a club to hammer pg with. Maybe justifiably so, it really was kind of a dumb thing to say.

Just yesterday Jesse Jackson had an interview saying he thinks it's time for the government to get involved in tech company diversity, so there could be some more journalists preparing stories on the issue.