It's called The Law of Merited Impossibility. It's a popular tactic for authoritarians in the last 30 years or so. Deny something is happening, and anyone who claims it is is paranoid. Then quickly do the thing, and smear anyone who says it's a bad thing. The point is to avoid ever actually debating the ideas they're pushing by denying it.
Republicans Mocked Over Outraged Claims Government 'Coming for' Gas Stoves https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-mocked-over-outraged-cl...
"... the rightwing immolation at the mere suggestion of a gas stove ban is just one more line on a long list of rightwing lies made for political gain." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/18/how-di...
As usual, "That's not going to happen!" gives way in short order to "It's a good thing that it is going to happen!"