I think Trump was just hoping the Pence thing or the Jan6 insurrection thing would somehow stall the vote and buy more time to figure out a different strategy. And that’s why he doesn’t mind doing this to Pence
Also it seems like most of the time people say it’s made up that Trump is saying these sorts of things, it’s weird to hear him say it out loud at this point
Actually, the "strategy" was the Constitutional remedy.---Send objections, whether from Congress or state legislators, back to the state legislatures for review and re-certification.
Pence assumed authority he didn't have twice: Once when he refused such a request from legislators from five states and again when he shut down Congressional objections, after the "insurrection".
No one was asking Pence to do anything other than his damn job as expected under the Constitution and by Congressional law.