It does sound like a trial balloon, or was deliberately put out there to create uncertainty. It might have been some entity on the left that is trying to drive a wedge between Trump and his supporters.
One idea is that Trump knows the the left will jump on this idea as a good one, and that will push them far outside the mainstream. He can let it percolate for a while then slap the left down for wanting to turn the USA into China and set himself up as a defender of civil liberties.
Bahahahahahahahahaha you typed all that with a straight face seriously?
Good analysis.