Right now he's just testing the waters. He's running it up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes it.

He's evaluating how his message is received, by both his enemies and allies. This doesn't necessarily mean he's going to actually use violence to stay in power, but it demonstrates that he is considering it, and ready to use it if he thinks he 1)can call for it, 2)make it happen, and 3)if he can get away with it if he does so.

This man is dangerous. And evil. But once again, at the risk of flogging a dead horse yet again, the main disappointment is not that Trump is Trump, its that the American Republican Party is still ready to cover up and make excuses for him.