Currently, there are significant uncertainties surrounding this story, and it’s not as simple as some headlines might imply.
Reports suggest that Chinese government officials are considering the idea of Elon Musk taking control of TikTok’s U.S. operations. This potential move could allow the app to remain available to American users if the Supreme Court upholds the government’s forced sell-off mandate, which is expected to be decided this week.
The story initially surfaced late yesterday, hinting that Musk might take over TikTok as an alternative to an outright ban in the U.S. TikTok swiftly denied these claims, dismissing the report as “pure fiction.”
However, subsequent reports have lent some credibility to the concept, while clarifying that neither TikTok nor Elon Musk appears to be directly involved in any potential deal at this stage. Instead, it seems that Chinese government officials have floated the idea as a way to keep TikTok accessible in the U.S.
According to Bloomberg, Chinese officials, who have so far resisted the idea of selling TikTok due to concerns over U.S. government interference, are now exploring the possibility of involving Musk, given his existing ties with China through his other ventures, particularly Tesla.
Bloomberg noted:
“One scenario under discussion by the Chinese government involves Musk’s X—formerly known as Twitter—taking control of TikTok U.S. and managing both platforms together. With more than 170 million users in the U.S., TikTok could enhance X’s efforts to attract advertisers. Additionally, Musk’s AI company, xAI, could benefit from the vast amounts of data generated by TikTok.”
From Beijing’s perspective, Musk’s established relationship with Chinese authorities might position him as a trusted intermediary capable of maintaining TikTok’s presence in the U.S. while complying with American ownership requirements.
As of now, this proposal remains speculative, and Musk has not commented on the possibility of acquiring TikTok. Chinese officials have also refrained from making any official statements.
Meanwhile, TikTok is awaiting a decision on its Supreme Court appeal against the U.S. government’s sell-off mandate. Given the current outlook, the chances of overturning the senate-backed order appear slim. Consequently, Chinese officials are reportedly exploring alternative solutions, with a Musk-led partnership emerging as one potential option.
If such a deal were to materialize, it would place Elon Musk at the helm of another major social media platform, potentially reshaping the landscape of the industry.
At this stage, much of the discussion remains speculative, with many details yet to be clarified. Still, the possibility of Musk taking control of TikTok’s U.S. operations cannot be ruled out as a compromise to keep the platform running.
