Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has firmly dismissed speculation that he is interested in acquiring TikTok, despite ongoing U.S. government pressure on the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its American operations.
Musk made these comments in late January during a virtual appearance at a summit hosted by The WELT Group, a division of German media conglomerate Axel Springer SE. His remarks were publicly released on Saturday, putting an end to rumors that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO might consider purchasing the short-video platform.
The speculation around Musk’s potential interest in TikTok arose amid increasing regulatory scrutiny in the United States over national security concerns. The U.S. government has long accused ByteDance of posing a threat due to its alleged ties to the Chinese government, raising fears about data privacy and potential foreign influence. In response, lawmakers have considered various measures, including a nationwide ban on the app or forcing its sale to a U.S.-based entity.
Despite these pressures, Musk clarified that acquiring TikTok does not align with his business priorities. The billionaire, who also owns X (formerly Twitter), has been focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into his platforms while expanding his ventures in electric vehicles, space exploration, and neural technology. His rejection of TikTok comes at a time when he is deeply invested in the development of xAI, his AI startup, which he hopes will challenge industry leaders like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
Musk’s decision is also consistent with his past comments about social media platforms. Since acquiring X in 2022, he has repeatedly emphasized his vision of transforming it into an “everything app,” with a broader range of services including financial transactions, messaging, and AI integration. Owning TikTok, which operates under a vastly different model, would likely conflict with this strategy.
The ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains a pressing issue for ByteDance. While the company has denied allegations of wrongdoing and insists that it operates independently from the Chinese government, it continues to face regulatory headwinds. The Biden administration has signaled its commitment to addressing concerns about Chinese-owned technology companies, keeping TikTok in the crosshairs of lawmakers.
For now, Musk’s dismissal of any acquisition interest adds further complexity to the situation. With no clear American buyer stepping forward, ByteDance must navigate the political and legal landscape to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. while avoiding further government action. As the debate over the app’s ownership continues, the possibility of a forced sale or an outright ban remains uncertain.
