Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed any speculation about his interest in purchasing TikTok, the popular short-video app owned by China’s ByteDance. His comments, made in late January, were released online on Saturday by The WELT Group, part of German media company Axel Springer SE.
Speaking via video at the summit, Musk stated, “I have not put in a bid for TikTok,” despite former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that he could be a potential buyer. Musk further clarified that he does not use TikTok personally and has no plans for the platform.
Musk’s Stance on Acquiring Companies
Musk reiterated that he is not actively looking to acquire companies, saying, “I’m not chomping at the bit to acquire TikTok. I do not acquire companies in general, it’s quite rare.” He noted that his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022 was an exceptional case, as he usually builds companies from scratch rather than purchasing existing ones.
U.S. Government Pressure on TikTok
The comments come amid ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to ban or force the sale of TikTok over national security concerns. Lawmakers and intelligence officials have long argued that ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese government to hand over U.S. user data, a claim the company has repeatedly denied.
In January 2025, ByteDance was given a deadline to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets or face a ban. Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok in their U.S. app stores since the ban was enforced. In response, TikTok recently enabled Android users in the U.S. to download the app via direct package kits from its website, bypassing app store restrictions.
Trump’s Changing Stance on TikTok
Trump’s position on TikTok has shifted significantly since his first term, during which he unsuccessfully tried to ban the app. More recently, he has expressed support for TikTok, crediting it with helping him gain traction among young voters during the 2024 U.S. presidential election. He has also suggested that multiple parties are interested in buying the app and hinted that a decision on its future could be made this month.
Additionally, the former president signed an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund, which could potentially purchase TikTok. However, ByteDance has denied any intentions of selling the platform.
With TikTok boasting approximately 170 million American users, the app’s future remains uncertain, as the U.S. government continues to grapple with concerns over data privacy and foreign influence.
