TikTok Says Report Of Possible Sale To Elon Musk ‘Pure Fiction’

China has dismissed as ‘pure fiction’ a report that it might allow the sale of its U.S. operations to Elon Musk. The statement followed a Bloomberg report that Chinese officials are considering a sale of the app to Musk’s social media platform, X, if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a ban on the app.

TikTok faces a nationwide ban if it does not sell its U.S. operations by January 19, and the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a law that would require the company to do so. A spokesperson for TikTok has repeatedly said it will not sell its U.S. business, telling the BBC that it ‘can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.’ Chinese officials might consider a deal with Musk as a contingency plan, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources. When approached by the BBC, Musk’s X platform declined to comment on the report.

Political undertones add to the debate as Musk is close to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. Last week, Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay its decision until after his inauguration, hoping for a ‘political resolution.’ His legal team has insisted on opposing a ban of TikTok and seeking diplomatic solutions.

Democratic lawmakers Edward Markey and Ro Khanna have also joined the political pressure, calling on Congress and President Biden to extend the January 19 deadline. Meanwhile, at a Supreme Court hearing, justices worried about the national security risks of TikTok. TikTok has repeatedly denied accusations that the app could be exploited by China for espionage or manipulation, a charge the Biden administration says the app could be used for.

Chinese officials have not publicly commented on the reported sale scenario, while TikTok says banning the app violates its users’ First Amendment rights. The future of TikTok in the U.S. is still in limbo as the deadline approaches, with legal and geopolitical tensions.

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