My take on this is that Trump...no matter what you feel about him....is not dumb or an amateur. Everything he says and does is for a reason.
I think he purposely said the things, about the judge, without baking down... to find out what those he might want for VP or cabinet say about it?
All along this has happened over and over and he came out on top. I see a pattern for him doing this and still winning. I think he is a master at this whole thing and it takes the rest of us to finally realize it.