Maybe Ted isn't negotiating, but really means what he says.
He’s a politician and he’s a lawyer. He probably means what he says but no one actually knows what he’s saying because he hides his thoughts in his words. Let’s get Trump elected outright so he has a strong hand and the GOPe has no chips to play. Only way to truly blow it up. If he goes into the convention needing something from them they’ll still have a foothold