Musk may become TikTok buyer in the US: China considers option.

The Chinese government is considering transferring control of TikTok's American division to Elon Musk, Bloomberg reports.

Officials in Beijing clearly express a preference for TikTok to remain under the ownership of its parent company ByteDance Ltd., which is currently in a legal battle with the US administration over a possible ban on the app. However, after hearings on January 10, judges hinted that they are likely to support the ban. High-ranking Chinese officials have already begun discussing contingency plans for TikTok, including Musk's potential involvement.

A deal with one of President Trump's closest allies is attractive to the Chinese government, which may have some influence over the decision to sell TikTok. This information was provided by sources. Musk has spent over $250 million to support Trump and has played a key role in improving the government's operations since the president took office.

Regarding the potential deal being discussed by the Chinese government, Musk could manage American TikTok alongside his business X, which focuses on artificial intelligence. TikTok has over 170 million users in the US, so collaborating with the platform would allow X to attract new advertisers. Additionally, XAI, a company founded by Musk to develop artificial intelligence, could gain access to the vast amount of data generated by TikTok.

In fact, Chinese officials have not yet reached a consensus on further actions, and all discussions are currently preliminary, sources report. It is unknown whether ByteDance is aware of the Chinese government's discussions and whether TikTok and Musk have been involved in these dialogues. It is also unclear whether any negotiations have taken place regarding the terms of a potential deal.

Musk's representatives did not respond to a request for comment. In April, he already stated that he does not support a TikTok ban in the US, as it contradicts freedom of speech and expression, which is emphasized in America.