TikTok has dismissed as “pure fiction” a report suggesting China is considering allowing a sale of the social media company’s US operations to Elon Musk.
The denial came in response to a Bloomberg report claiming Chinese officials are weighing a potential sale to Musk if the US Supreme Court upholds a looming ban on the app.
Supreme Court justices are set to rule on a law that requires TikTok to sell its US operations or face a ban by 19 January. TikTok has consistently stated it will not sell its US business.
“We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson told reporters.
According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter said one option being considered by Chinese officials would see Musk’s X social media platform take control of TikTok’s US operations. X has not responded to requests for comment.
Musk is a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, who will return to the White House on 20 January.
Trump has urged the Supreme Court to delay its ruling until after he takes office, allowing him to pursue a “political resolution.” His lawyer filed a brief stating Trump “opposes banning TikTok” and prefers to address the matter diplomatically.
This followed a meeting between Trump and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew last month at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Meanwhile, two Democratic lawmakers, Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, have also urged President Joe Biden and Congress to extend the 19 January deadline.
During a Supreme Court hearing last week, justices appeared inclined to uphold the legislation. National security concerns regarding TikTok’s potential use by China for espionage and political manipulation were repeatedly cited during the three-hour arguments.
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The Biden administration has argued that a sale is necessary to prevent TikTok from being exploited by the Chinese Communist Party.
Last year, the US government passed a law demanding TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, either sell the app’s US operations or shut it down. The law is set to take effect a day before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The US government claims TikTok allows Beijing to spy on users and spread propaganda. Both ByteDance and the Chinese government have denied these accusations.
TikTok has repeatedly denied any influence by the Chinese government and claims the proposed ban violates the First Amendment rights of its US users.
Musk previously expressed opposition to banning TikTok, writing on X in April that doing so would be “contrary to freedom of speech and expression”.
