What’s he got, another 17 months? Lotta damage can be done in that time for sure. I do believe he’d LOVE to try it.
Sorta like those old Russian generals sitting around thinking “Gee... maybe we COULD pull off nuke first-strike...” back in the 80s.
But insofar as Stewart - yes, I think he was just being a douchebag and poking a finger in the eye. Does he mean it, inside? Probably... until it affects him directly.