I'm wondering if they'd "hold him ransom" with a bunch of policy demands, which he'd performatively refuse but then do anyway. Libs can claim he stood his ground ("So brave!"), conservative ghouls can claim they gave him a reasonable chance ("More than they gave Trump!") and get their policies enacted anyway, chuds within the GOP can claim dissatisfaction about the ultimatum and still get elected on popular outrage ("I would have killed and eaten him!"). Everyone wins. Except the majority of people.