2/ It's a larger pattern: Rs are declaring this higher fealty to Trump over our institutions on many fronts. Now that Trump has in effect declared the 2024 election will not be legitimate unless he wins, many Rs are using similar language
JD Vance and Elise Stefanik are auditioning to be Trump's VP by declaring their eagerness to sabotage the VP's institutional role in presiding over the peaceful transfer of power on Trump's behalf. Many Rs won't condemn his vow to pardon 1/6 criminals.