In 1989 I went to a rules class for the Central Vermont RR and the road foreman who gave the class made the remark (to wit) that the rules were the rules, but "sometimes a man's gotta do... what a man's gotta do".
If Mr. Trump has to pardon himself to insulate himself from the spurious witch hunts of the incoming democrat-communist regime, well... he's gotta do, what he's gotta do.
A reservation:
If Mr. Trump does this, it will set a precedent for ALL presidents who follow him (certainly all the democrat-communist ones).
That being, a self-pardon will become the last act of their administrations.
And thus... an excuse for their lawlessness in their terms preceding such acts.