Chinese officials are reportedly exploring a backup plan for TikTok after the Supreme Court appeared unlikely to save it from a potential US ban. With TikTok’s legal options nearly exhausted, multiple news outlets are reporting that China is reconsidering an option it previously dismissed: allowing ByteDance to sell the app.
The intriguing twist? China is allegedly contemplating involving President-elect Donald Trump’s favored tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk, as either a broker or a buyer in this potential deal. Reports from reputable sources like the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg — all citing unnamed sources — suggest that Chinese officials are at least contemplating the possibility of a sale. TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes has dismissed these reports as “pure fiction.” Neither the Chinese embassy in the US nor Musk’s existing social media company, X, has responded to requests for comment.
Many individuals have shown interest in acquiring TikTok, ranging from “Shark Tank” celebrity Kevin O’Leary to YouTuber Mr. Beast. The challenge has not been a lack of interested buyers — although major players like Meta and Google would likely face antitrust hurdles — but rather hesitant sellers. Recent reports indicate that the Chinese…
