Elon Musk’s X Could Take Over TikTok US Operations: Report

Chinese officials are reportedly in preliminary discussions about the possibility of selling TikTok’s US operations to billionaire Elon Musk. This move is being considered as a contingency plan if the short-video app cannot avoid an impending ban in the United States.

National Security Concerns and Supreme Court Ruling

The US Supreme Court is set to rule on a law that requires TikTok to be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by January 19, or face a ban due to national security concerns. The justices have indicated that they may uphold the law, prompting Chinese officials to explore alternative options3.

Musk’s Potential Involvement

One scenario being discussed involves Musk’s social media platform, X, taking control of TikTok’s US operations and running the business together with ByteDance. This arrangement could help TikTok avoid the ban while addressing US lawmakers’ concerns about Chinese influence over the app3.

Uncertain Future and Ongoing Deliberations

Chinese officials have yet to reach a consensus on how to proceed, and their deliberations are still in the early stages. It remains unclear how much ByteDance is aware of these discussions or whether Musk and TikTok have been involved in any formal talks about a potential deal2.

TikTok’s Response and Public Reaction

A TikTok spokesperson dismissed the Bloomberg report, stating, “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.” The company has consistently maintained that the Chinese government’s stake in ByteDance has no bearing on TikTok’s global operations outside of China