Yes, the current theory seems to be that Trumpf is on the list, so he is protecting himself, alternatively there are people on it he has "something on" and can therefore influence as a price for keeping it quiet. . But he's doing himself no favours by constantly changing his story/tactics. The latest is that the list exists but it is fake. So maybe he will release the fake list having pre loaded it with propaganda. This might not bring him down but it will undermine his authority amongst the MAGA conspiracy theorists base.