TikTok has dismissed rumors of Elon Musk acquiring the platform as baseless, labeling the claims “pure fiction.”

Responding to reports published by Bloomberg News, a TikTok spokesperson told the BBC, “We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction,” directly addressing the growing speculation over a potential buyout by Musk.

Beijing’s Contingency Plans for TikTok

According to Bloomberg, senior Chinese officials have begun internal discussions about contingency strategies for TikTok, exploring options in case U.S. regulators force ByteDance to sell its popular app.

While Beijing reportedly favors retaining TikTok under ByteDance’s control, one floated idea involves merging TikTok with Musk’s platform, X. However, the Wall Street Journal notes that ByteDance remains unaware of these deliberations.

Mounting Legal and Political Pressure

TikTok’s challenges extend to the courtroom, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to decide on its legal challenge to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. During recent oral arguments, justices appeared skeptical of TikTok’s claim that a forced sale would infringe on First Amendment rights.

Adding to the platform’s woes, its future has become a flashpoint in U.S. politics. President-elect Donald Trump, who attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, now pledges to “save” the platform. He recently met TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Mar-a-Lago and urged the Supreme Court to delay its decision until his January 20 inauguration, aiming for a political resolution.

Elon Musk’s Role

Although Bloomberg reports suggest Beijing is exploring Musk’s involvement, questions remain about how the billionaire might structure a deal. Musk, with a net worth exceeding $400 billion, has not publicly commented on the rumors.

The potential acquisition aligns with Musk’s long-standing vision of creating a “super app” in the United States, according to Sam Habibi, co-founder of Spotlight Media, an official TikTok Shop partner. 

Habibi wrote on LinkedIn that Musk’s interest in comprehensive digital platforms dates back to 1999 with X.com, which initially aimed to combine banking, digital purchases, and financial services before merging with PayPal in 2000.

A TikTok acquisition could provide X with access to 170 million U.S. users, as well as TikTok Shop’s established e-commerce infrastructure, Habibi explains. The deal would potentially allow Musk to integrate TikTok’s short-form video capabilities and younger user base with X’s existing platform, following a model similar to China’s WeChat, which combines messaging, social media, commerce, and financial services.

Lawmakers Weigh In as Deadline Looms

With the January 19 deadline fast approaching, Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, are urging Congress and President Biden to extend the deadline, BBC notes. The Biden administration has consistently argued that TikTok could pose risks related to Chinese surveillance and political interference—claims that TikTok strongly denies.