[Windflier]

Who exactly are they threatening? Certainly not the current administration.

That's exactly who they're threatening.

They think this will put sufficient pressure on the bribees to oust (or otherwise eliminate) Trump.

Knowing that Trump will completely understand the message, they're hopining he'll back off and get with the program.

[Eleutheria5]

They don’t know him very well, do they? That will change.