This is a very optimistic view of things. If this is indeed the plan, it still hurt a lot of people for very little, and to bank the strategy on “we’ll be able to blame them if they betray us” is ignoring all the other times this has happened with no consequences to the Republicans. And most of that was before the era of Trump opening up the gates. The line used to be “they’re saying it out loud” in response to them not being subtle about their goals. Now they’re shouting it loudly, and nothing is being done. We’re far past “working across the aisle” mentality.