VTI is different. It literally tracks all public stocks, weighted by market cap so no such manipulation is possible.
If a bunch of people will be forced to buy Space X (QQQ holders), active investors will short the stock in anticipation of market correction and money will flow from those who were forced to buy. I’m sure there are other ways to take advantage of a forced buyer situation.
Total market will be unaffected, assuming efficient market hypothesis / no arbitrage.