Now I have been debating this scenario with myself for a time, figuring out the possibilities levied here.

Now, the first one is optics, obviously. But for me that's not enough context, what are the optics aimed at? Who's watching this move other than us? Why is saying this that important?

Now reason suggests that, if this is optics, the puppet masters need to feel safe for their next move, or feel that Trump may not have a move. So what's the best way to do this? What play can make them feel like their winning?

Well, what's the purpose of pretending to lose? What's the purpose of feigning death or defeat in common animal kingdom? Have you target let their guard down. Many animals do this when they're spotted or they're camouflage fails.

Let's apply that to this scenario. What would reveal Trump's moving? What else may be moving that Trump would need to be seen to do so? Would feigning the fight against vaccines distract media and the administration to finally harp on a course victory against the "Trumpian" threat? What else is moving that they seemed very focused on that was alerting others to recently that a Trump "defeat" is the perfect shift of focus?

Why would that let their guard down?