Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has dismissed speculation about acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, stating he has no plans to bid for the popular social media platform.
“I’ve not put in a bid for TikTok and I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok,” Musk said via videolink at a German forum in late January, comments of which were released over the weekend.
The short-video app is facing mounting pressure in the United States after a law ordered its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns over data privacy.
Trump’s Freeze on TikTok Ban
In one of his first actions since returning to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a pause on enforcing the law, which would have effectively banned TikTok in the country just before he took office for a second term. Trump later suggested Musk—who owns social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tesla, and other companies—could be a potential buyer for TikTok.
However, Musk rejected the idea, stating, “I don’t use TikTok personally, so, you know, I’m not that familiar with it. I’m not chomping at the bit to acquire TikTok.”
Controversies Surrounding Musk’s Influence
Musk, the world’s richest person and a key advisor to Trump, has been leading the administration’s cost-cutting initiatives through his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). The initiative has targeted federal agencies and regulators, reportedly aiming to downsize operations and lay off government employees, particularly those not aligned with Trump’s policies.
On Saturday, a U.S. judge issued an emergency order blocking Musk’s government reform team from accessing personal and financial data of millions of Americans stored at the Treasury Department, according to court filings.
Since acquiring X (formerly Twitter) for $44 billion in 2022, Musk has positioned himself as a champion of free speech. However, critics and rights groups have raised concerns over a rise in hate speech and disinformation on the platform under his leadership.
Musk’s Stance on DEI and German Politics
At the German forum, Musk also criticized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which aim to support marginalized communities. “DEI is simply racism rebranded,” he said. “I’m against racism and sexism no matter who it’s directed against.”
His remarks align with Trump’s broader agenda to dismantle DEI programs across the federal government, with officials rapidly cutting funding, scrapping training initiatives, and sidelining employees involved in such efforts.
Musk’s comments have also drawn attention in Germany, where he has voiced support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—an endorsement that remains controversial in a country still reckoning with its Nazi past.
