Elon Musk has clarified that he has not made any bid for TikTok and has no plans regarding the platform, emphasizing his unfamiliarity with the app and his preference for building companies from scratch.
In a recent statement, Elon Musk addressed speculations about his potential interest in acquiring TikTok, the popular short-video app owned by China’s ByteDance. He stated, “I have not put in a bid for TikTok, and I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok.” Musk further mentioned that he does not use the app personally and is not familiar with its format.
This clarification comes amid ongoing discussions in the United States regarding TikTok’s future due to national security concerns. A U.S. law mandates that ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban. President Donald Trump has indicated openness to Musk purchasing the app, but Musk has expressed no interest in such an acquisition.
Musk highlighted that acquiring companies is rare for him, noting that he typically builds companies from scratch. He described his recent $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, as an unusual move aimed at preserving freedom of speech.
In addition to his business ventures, Musk has been appointed by President Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), focusing on reducing federal bureaucracy. However, a federal judge recently blocked Musk’s team from accessing Treasury Department data, citing concerns over potential overreach.
Musk also voiced criticism of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, stating, “DEI is simply racism rebranded.” This aligns with actions by the current administration to dismantle DEI initiatives across various federal agencies.
During a recent event in Germany, Musk faced criticism for expressing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, raising concerns given the country’s historical context.
Overall, Musk’s recent statements and actions reflect his focus on his existing ventures and his reluctance to engage in new acquisitions like TikTok.