Billionaire Elon Musk has dismissed rumors that he plans to buy TikTok, the popular video-sharing app. The U.S. government has raised concerns about TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, and its potential impact on national security.
Musk Rejects Acquisition Speculation
At a January event, Musk clarified his stance via video conference. He confirmed he had no interest in acquiring TikTok, despite former President Donald Trump’s suggestion. “I have not submitted any bids for TikTok,” Musk said. He added that he does not use the app and is unfamiliar with its format, emphasizing he has no personal connection to TikTok.
Musk also explained that he rarely acquires companies. “The Twitter purchase, now X, was unusual for me,” he said, noting that he prefers building companies from the ground up.
U.S. Government Pressure on ByteDance
The U.S. government previously set a January deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets, citing security concerns. Lawmakers warned that TikTok could share American user data with China. TikTok has denied these allegations and vowed to resist any such requests. Despite the pressure, Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok on their app stores since the U.S. imposed a ban. In response, TikTok has allowed U.S. Android users to download the app via package kits available on its website.
Trump’s Changing Views on TikTok
Former President Trump had initially tried to ban TikTok, citing national security threats. However, he later softened his stance. Recently, Trump revealed he was in talks with potential buyers for TikTok and even signed an executive order to establish a sovereign wealth fund that could potentially purchase the app. Despite these discussions, ByteDance has denied any plans to sell.
Trump has also acknowledged the app’s impact on his popularity, especially among younger voters during the 2024 election. “TikTok holds a special place in my heart,” he remarked.
While Elon Musk has firmly rejected the idea of purchasing TikTok, discussions surrounding the app’s future continue amidst ongoing scrutiny from the U.S. government and its users. TikTok and ByteDance have not yet commented on the latest developments.