Why hasn't Trump ever said anything negative about Flynn? He's trashed nearly everyone else who left his orbit. Why is Flynn special?

Since he was the first person that Mueller made a plea deal with, naturally he would get the better deal. A prosecutor would not know if there might not be a second? Mueller may have come to regret the deal he made with Flynn? But, it was out of necessity.

However, the Judge has a very keen nose. He smelled something rotten with the whole deal.

Several journalists have speculated that this is the case. But it was Flynn's team that asked for the delay in sentencing. I think it is safe to say they recognized that Judge Sullivan was disgusted with Flynn, and believes he should have been charged with more serious criminal offenses.

...and why would Trump treat Flynn so gently?

I think there may be something that Flynn has not told Mueller?

But, it's all speculation on my part.

some journalists planted that seed in their initial reactions to today's court hearing. Trump has reasons to fear what Flynn has told investigators (I outlined these below). And Flynn's legal team is trying to make Flynn seem "less dirty" than others in the case. A lawyer who is friends with Flynn's team explained this on CNN. He had spoken with Flynn's team this afternoon, and they said they were simply trying to make Flynn look better than Manafort, etc. During the hearing, they realized their attempt had backfired; hence, they admitted he had not been tricked by the FBI.

What Flynn has told Mr. Mueller is far more damaging to Trump than what Cohen did. He served as one of Trump's messengers to the Russians. Not the only one, but a mighty important one.

bony ass. There is some very BIG REASON why rump is not degrading Flynn.

Trump's trying to keep him loyal?

When he was indicted, his legal team sent Trump's team notice that they were no longer going to share information. I have seen nothing that suggests this has changed. The Flynn team is only concerned about their client, which is how it should be ….even though Flynn is guilty as sin. For that matter, especially because Flynn is guilty as sin.

Someone has informed him. Otherwise, why would he wish him "good luck" before he went before the Judge?

I think there is much more to know about Mr. Flynn.

Just my opinion.

for sure would be what the two of them discussed during the campaign and transition. Hence, he would have a good idea what Flynn has told Mr. Mueller. An obvious example is how Flynn described why he lied to the FBI about his contact with the Russian "ambassador" during the transition. There is no way Flynn would have done that on his own. Trump knows Flynn has talked to Mr. Mueller about why he accompanied Jared during the transition to the Russian embassy, to try to set up a secure communications line. And Trump knows that Flynn has told Mr. Mueller who tasked him with contacting foreign diplomats to try to influence their vote on a UN issue.

Those are only three things that we know, that all happened within a very short period of time in the transition. We also know that both Trump and Flynn were, during the campaign season, both intent upon doing business with Russia -- Trump Tower Moscow, and Flynn's deal on reactors in two countries in the Middle East with Russian investments. To do so, each needed the US sanctions to be dropped.

Other than what Flynn's legal team and the prosecution have made public in their court filings, I'm unaware of anything else that Trump's team knows that cannot easily be attributed to Trump's memory of what he and Flynn discussed over many months.

and there are hundreds of millions of dollars to be made for Trump and Flynn. Also, Trump's embrace of the Crown Prince, MBS, may be related to what is still considered a partnership by Trump and Flynn. Just my opinion.