If you are right, Trump could, in theory, commit felony after felony, and after having done so, immediately pardon himself. He could commit murder many times over and be immune to prosecution, even if he were later impeached. I believe the Founders would not say this is what they intended in the constitution, which was based on respect for law.
You could say — well, then he could be impeached. But the constitution was written before political parties existed, like the current Republicans who in many cases have proven that loyalty to party trumps loyalty to country. This is the kind of faction Madison warned against in Federalist 10, but again, he could not anticipate organized parties and if he has we can be sure that the plurality rule would not apply for elections because it cements in a two party monopoly.
And as I said, having pardoned himself, perhaps over multiple murders, he would be removed from office but remain otherwise untouchable.
So while the situation is unprecedented, there is no honest reason to argue that Trump pardoning himself is in any way a power intended by the framers, let alone by any citizen who puts the good of the country ahead of the good of their faction.
Your argument is in practice a defense of despotism.