Chinese officials have reportedly held initial discussions about the possibility of selling TikTok’s U.S. operations to billionaire Elon Musk if the platform is unable to avoid a looming ban.
While Beijing prefers TikTok to remain under its parent company, ByteDance, alternative options, including a sale to Musk, have been considered, according to reports.
A TikTok spokesperson dismissed the report, calling it “pure fiction,” and reaffirmed the company’s stance against selling its U.S. operations.
Despite this, TikTok has become a dominant social media platform in the U.S., with over 170 million users, surpassing competitors like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube in app downloads since 2018.
However, its rapid rise has raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers over potential Chinese government influence, as the Communist Party holds a “golden share” in ByteDance.
In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a complete ban. The Supreme Court recently signaled support for upholding the law, which would enforce a sale or ban by January 19.
The app’s U.S. operations could be sold through a competitive process or a government-mandated arrangement, potentially removing sole control from ByteDance.
One scenario reportedly under discussion involves Musk’s social media platform, X, taking over TikTok’s U.S. operations, possibly running them jointly. However, no consensus has been reached among Chinese officials, and it remains unclear if ByteDance, TikTok, or Musk are aware of these reported discussions.
A sale to Musk would expand his influence over the U.S. information landscape, adding to his acquisition of Twitter (now X) in October 2022.
Although Musk initially pledged political neutrality for the platform, he has since used it to promote right-wing content and campaign for Donald Trump’s re-election. Any takeover of TikTok, especially by a competitor, would likely face scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice.
While TikTok has maintained that the Chinese government’s stake does not affect its global operations outside of China, uncertainty about its future continues.
Influencer MrBeast joked about buying TikTok to prevent a ban, highlighting the platform’s popularity among U.S. users.
Neither Musk, ByteDance, nor Chinese regulatory bodies have commented on the matter.
