Please remember, Trump isn't a man known for loyalty. To anyone. If you're wondering why Trump is bending over backwards to exculpate Stone and excise him from the justice system, the simple answer—supported by the evidence—is this: Stone can incriminate Trump. Don't forget that.
PS/ Trump engaged in similar theatrics and backroom dealings when *Manafort* was in federal court, and per NBC News told friends that Manafort could hurt him if he "flipped." Stone is Manafort's longtime friend, associate, adviser, and confidant (and Trump's too). He knows a lot.
PS2/ So when you read about what Trump is up to now, don't think of it as "protecting a friend" or "trying to be a king"—though the latter is broadly true—but as a man who lied to federal law enforcement about his coordination with a Kremlin cutout (WikiLeaks) and Stone knows it.
PS3/ Those who didn't follow the Stone trial closely may not realize that the *whole prosecution* was focused on Stone lying to federal entities and threatening witnesses *to protect Trump*. The *focus* of the trial was on Stone protecting Trump. And now Trump is acting this way.
