At some point, every leader will be misunderstood.
People will say things about you behind your back (or to your face) that aren’t true. People will judge your motives and get it wrong.
Sometimes you’ll only be allowed to say certain things in public, not because you’re being secretive, but because revealing all the information would make others look bad or would be breaking confidence. So instead, you look bad.
That’s just the territory of leadership.
Leadership is a bit like parenting. You have to do the right thing even if it’s not the popular thing.
I’ve been there many times as a leader (and as a parent).