They’re trying to shift the party even further right to gobble up the Never Trump Republicans. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a long term goal in order to further minimize the progressive agenda within the party. Pull enough conservatives into the party and you’d have one big party that’s right of center, a smaller fascist party, and an unorganized gaggle of progressives.
I also think it’s generally quite a stupid play that’s going to backfire on them and probably just empower the fascists.