DOJ lawsuits...Biden felt compelled to protect such people (e.g. Tony Fauci) with pardons. In a normal world...like with every other administration before Trump's, a President wouldn't dream of such a scenario. That's how despicable Trump is. As for Pardoning himself, that would take a majority of SCOTUS Justices to be as lawless...don't see that happening. With those Felony indictments for Jan. 6th and Mar-a-Lago waiting for him when he leaves office, he needs assurance that he won't stand trial...J.D. as President solves the problem.
Let's not forget that in J.D.'s own words, he sees Trump as a "Useful Tool"...what better way to 'Use Him' than to promise him a pardon?