TikTok has strongly denied reports that Chinese officials are exploring a potential sale of the app’s US operations to billionaire Elon Musk, calling the claims “pure fiction.”
The denial comes after Bloomberg News reported that Beijing officials were considering Musk as a potential buyer for TikTok’s US business if the company fails to prevent an impending ban. According to Bloomberg’s sources, the discussions were part of broader contingency planning by Chinese officials ahead of Donald Trump’s return to office.
Under one scenario reportedly discussed, Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) would take control of TikTok’s US operations, potentially combining the platforms to boost advertising revenue. TikTok currently has over 170 million users in the United States.
Cannot comment on “pure fiction”
However, when reached for comment by Variety, a TikTok representative dismissed the report outright, stating the company “can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.”
The discussions come as TikTok faces a crucial deadline, with a US law requiring Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell its stake or face an effective ban taking effect January 19. The Supreme Court heard arguments last week on TikTok’s emergency appeal to block the law, with justices appearing skeptical of the company’s First Amendment arguments.
Why Elon Musk ‘for Tiktok’
Bloomberg’s sources indicated that Chinese officials see a potential deal with Musk, who has close ties to Trump and extensive business experience in China through Tesla, as a possible path to reconciliation. The billionaire previously expressed opposition to banning TikTok, writing on X in April that doing so would be “contrary to freedom of speech and expression.”
Any potential sale would face significant hurdles, including complex technological separation requirements and needed approvals from both US and Chinese governments. Bloomberg Intelligence analysts previously estimated TikTok’s US operations could be valued between $40 billion to $50 billion.
President-elect Trump has called for delaying the ban to seek a “negotiated resolution” after he takes office on January 20, aiming to preserve both national security interests and users’ First Amendment rights.