Elon Musk Dismisses Interest in Acquiring TikTok
He has also indicated that discussions over TikTok’s future ownership are ongoing, with a decision expected soon.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has made it clear that he has no interest in purchasing TikTok, the popular short-video platform that faces potential bans in the United States due to concerns over its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Speaking at a summit hosted by The WELT Group, part of German media conglomerate Axel Springer SE, Musk stated, “I have not put in a bid for TikTok.” His comments, made in late January, were released online on Saturday.
This clarification comes just a week after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he would be open to Musk acquiring TikTok if he chose to do so.
“I’m not chomping at the bit to acquire TikTok. I do not acquire companies in general—it’s quite rare,” Musk emphasized, noting that his purchase of Twitter (now X) was an exception. “I usually build companies from scratch.”
Musk also revealed that he does not personally use TikTok and is not familiar with its format, further reinforcing his lack of interest in acquiring the platform.
Ongoing TikTok Ban Concerns
TikTok is currently under scrutiny in the U.S. due to national security concerns.
ByteDance was given a January deadline to divest its U.S. assets or face a ban.
Lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could compel ByteDance to share data from American users—an allegation the company has consistently denied.
Despite TikTok’s assurances, Apple and Google have yet to reinstate the app in their U.S. stores following new legal restrictions.
In response, TikTok announced on Friday that U.S. Android users could still download and access the app through package kits available on its website.
Trump’s Changing Stance on TikTok
In a shift from his previous administration’s attempts to ban TikTok, Trump recently expressed support for the app, acknowledging its role in helping him connect with young voters during the 2024 election.
He has also indicated that discussions over TikTok’s future ownership are ongoing, with a decision expected soon.
Additionally, Trump signed an executive order this week to establish a sovereign wealth fund within the year, which he suggested could potentially purchase TikTok.
Despite ongoing speculation, ByteDance has denied any plans to sell TikTok. The company, along with TikTok representatives, has not responded to requests for comment outside regular business hours.