TikTok has dismissed as “pure fiction” a Bloomberg report suggesting China is exploring a sale of the platform’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk’s social media company, X, in response to mounting U.S. regulatory pressure.
The Bloomberg story, citing anonymous sources, alleged that Beijing is considering a scenario where X acquires TikTok from ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, potentially merging the popular video-sharing app with the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson stated emphatically in response to the claim.
The report pegged TikTok’s U.S. operations’ value at $40 billion to $50 billion. Despite Elon Musk’s status as the world’s wealthiest person, Bloomberg noted uncertainties about how Musk could finance the acquisition, speculating he might need to liquidate other assets to execute the deal.
The speculation arises against the backdrop of a U.S. law passed last year, requiring ByteDance to either divest from TikTok or face the app’s potential shutdown. American lawmakers argue that TikTok poses a national security risk, accusing it of enabling Beijing to spy on users and disseminate propaganda—claims that both ByteDance and the Chinese government have repeatedly denied.
TikTok has legally challenged the divestment mandate, escalating the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. During oral arguments on Friday, several justices appeared doubtful about TikTok’s claim that forcing a sale violates First Amendment protections for free speech.
While the court deliberates, TikTok remains under intense scrutiny, with its future in the U.S. clouded by geopolitical tensions and regulatory challenges.
The unfolding situation places TikTok, ByteDance, and even Elon Musk at the center of a high-stakes confrontation between Washington and Beijing over technology, privacy, and economic influence.
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