TikTok has dismissed reports about its potential sale to Elon Musk as “pure fiction,” denying claims that the Chinese government is considering this option to avoid a US ban.
Reports by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal suggested that Beijing officials discussed selling TikTok to Musk, possibly integrating it with his social platform X, as a contingency plan. However, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has reportedly not been informed of any such plans.
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A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction,” rejecting the allegations outright.
This comes as the US Supreme Court evaluates the constitutionality of a proposed TikTok ban under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. TikTok has challenged the law, citing First Amendment rights, but justices have expressed skepticism about its argument.
The debate over TikTok highlights bipartisan concerns about national security risks, including data collection and potential public influence. The issue has become a focal point ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as he previously vowed to save the platform.