Reports recently surfaced suggesting that the Chinese government was open to a potential deal for Elon Musk to acquire TikTok. However, during an interview at the WELT Economic Summit on January 28, Musk clearly stated his disinterest in such a venture. This announcement comes amid ongoing discussions about TikTok's future in the United States, with President Donald Trump having delayed a law that would require ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell the app or face a ban.
In the interview conducted by Anthony Ha, TechCrunch's weekend editor, Musk addressed rumors linking him to a possible TikTok acquisition.
"I have not put in a bid for TikTok." – Elon Musk
Despite President Trump's previous interest in seeing Musk or Oracle chairman Larry Ellison acquire the social media platform, Musk set the record straight. Trump's interest extended to the extent of signing an executive order aimed at creating a sovereign wealth fund capable of purchasing a stake in TikTok. This move highlights the administration's strategic consideration of American tech leaders in the potential ownership of the popular app.
Musk's recent comments about TikTok came nearly 20 minutes into the interview, which initially centered on his plans for a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration. Musk is known for his entrepreneurial ventures, usually building companies from scratch, which he described as an anomaly in his career with the acquisition of Twitter (now X).
The interview shed light not only on Musk's business strategies but also on Ha's background. Ha, who has not personally used TikTok, has an extensive history as a tech reporter, having worked at Adweek and VentureBeat, as well as serving as a local government reporter for the Hollister Free Lance. He also held the position of vice president of content at a venture capital firm.
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