Silke Mayr Billionaire Elon Musk has firmly dismissed any interest in acquiring TikTok, the widely popular short-video platform under scrutiny in the United States. The app has faced concerns over its Chinese ownership by ByteDance, which some lawmakers fear could pose national security risks.
Musk Clarifies His Stance on TikTok
During a summit hosted by The WELT Group in late January, Musk spoke about his position regarding TikTok. Speaking via video link, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX made it clear that he had no intention of acquiring the platform.
“I haven’t placed any bid for TikTok,” Musk said, addressing speculation that arose after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Musk could be a potential buyer. Musk emphasized that he did not have any plans for the app if he were to own it and clarified, “I’m not eager to acquire TikTok. I rarely buy companies.”
Musk explained that his purchase of Twitter, now known as X, was an exception. “I usually prefer building companies from scratch,” he added, further dismissing any thoughts of acquiring the social media platform.
TikTok Faces Growing Pressure Over Potential U.S. Ban
TikTok’s future in the U.S. has been uncertain for years, with national security concerns at the forefront. Under Trump, the U.S. government sought to impose a ban on the app unless ByteDance sold its U.S. operations, citing fears that China could compel the company to share sensitive data on American users. TikTok has continuously denied these allegations.
Though Apple and Google have refrained from reintroducing TikTok to their app stores, TikTok has continued to provide access for U.S. Android users through downloadable package kits from its website, bypassing the restrictions.
ByteDance has yet to respond to requests for comment, but the company has denied any intention to sell the app.
Trump’s Evolving Views on TikTok
Donald Trump previously explored the possibility of selling TikTok to various potential buyers, but a deal never materialized. The former president recently stated that TikTok’s 170 million American users remain a key topic of discussion. Although Trump initially sought to ban the app, he later acknowledged its influence, especially among younger voters during the 2024 election. “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump admitted.
Despite this, ByteDance has consistently denied any plans to sell TikTok, leaving the app’s future in the U.S. uncertain.