China Reportedly Explores Elon Musk as Buyer for TikTok's U.S. Operations

Facing a looming U.S. ban, TikTok's parent company ByteDance may be compelled to sell, with Musk emerging as a speculative candidate.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on a law mandating ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban starting January 19.
Reports suggest Chinese officials are considering selling TikTok's U.S. business to Elon Musk, though ByteDance and Musk have denied any formal discussions.
Musk, who owns social platform X and is a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has previously opposed a TikTok ban on free speech grounds.
Analysts estimate TikTok's U.S. operations could cost between $40-$50 billion, but any sale may exclude its algorithm, which China deems critical intellectual property.
The potential ban has raised concerns over free speech, economic impacts on creators, and broader U.S.-China tech tensions, with some lawmakers calling for an extension of the deadline.