Trump is a 3-dimensional chess player. Although I can’t see the play I’m confident he’s got this. After it’s over I suspect we’ll be marveling at his brilliant gamesmanship.
I find it highly likely that Trump is allowing this 9th Circuit fiasco to proceed in order to show how out of control the balance of power is among the 3 branches of the Federal government has become. The judiciary has encroached on the other 2 and asserted primacy. Trump is about to lower the boom and reestablish the proper balance by asserting his dominance in matters that are his responsibility, in spite of what the 9th Circuit (or even the Supreme Court) rules to the contrary.