TikTok has dismissed as “pure fiction” a report suggesting that China is considering the sale of its US operations to Elon Musk.
This response came after Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials are contemplating a potential sale of TikTok’s US business to Musk if the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on the app.
The Supreme Court is set to decide on a law that requires TikTok to either sell its US operations or face a potential ban by January 19. TikTok has firmly stated that it has no intention of selling its US business.
“We can’t comment on something that’s pure fiction,” said a TikTok spokesperson in response to the Bloomberg report.
The report, citing sources familiar with the situation, claimed that Chinese officials were considering a scenario where Musk’s X social media platform would take control of TikTok’s US operations. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Musk, a known ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has been linked to the idea. Trump, who is set to return to office on January 20, had previously urged the Supreme Court to delay its decision to allow him time to seek a political resolution.
His legal team filed a brief expressing his opposition to the TikTok ban and his desire to resolve the matter politically once he assumes office.
This followed a meeting between Trump and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last month.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, have called for the 19 January deadline to be extended, urging Congress and President Joe Biden to take action.
During a Supreme Court hearing last week, justices focused on national security concerns tied to the law, with discussions centering around the potential risks of TikTok being used by China for spying and political influence. TikTok has consistently denied such claims and argued that the law to ban the app infringes on the First Amendment rights of its users.
