Judge's warning Threats called out

Allies and aides to Donald Trump should be increasingly concerned by Elon Musk's proximity to and influence on the US president-elect, the Yale historian and bestselling author Timothy Snyder has said.

- Martin Pengelly

"Trump is a little guy, and Musk is a big guy when it actually comes to having money," Snyder said. "And I think if you were a friend of Trump, you would be worried."

The author of bestsellers including On Tyranny (2017) and On Freedom (2024) was speaking to the Guardian about issues including his work in Ukraine, where he has teamed up with the Star Wars actor Mark Hamill to raise funds to buy robots to clear landmines laid by Russian invaders.

But as Trump prepares to take power, and promises new policy on US support for Ukraine most expect to heavily favour Vladimir Putin and Russia, Snyder also considered what the coming administration may mean closer to home.

Snyder expects the White House will be a stage for uncomfortable and damaging discord between the president-elect and Elon Musk - his most powerful ally, and the world's richest man.

"I think we overestimate Trump and we underestimate Musk," Snyder said. "People can't help but think that Trump has money, but he doesn't. He's never really had money. He's never even really claimed to have money. His whole notion is that you have to believe that he has money. But he's never been able to pay his own debts.